WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Denison Thursday afternoon, as Otterbein scored late in game one to earn the victory. The Cardinals are now 16-12 overall on the season, while Denison is 11-9 on the year. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

GAME ONE: OTTERBEIN – 4, DENISON – 2

• Denison got ahead early by scoring in the first inning, as Brennah Dutcher hit a slow roller to third base and drove in the first run of the afternoon. The Big Red would add another run in the third inning to take a 2-0 advantage.
• Otterbein got on the scoreboard in third frame, as Katrina Wierzbicki hit a sacrifice fly to right field and scored the speedy Savannah McCoppin.
• In the sixth inning, Maria Herron drove in two runs with a double to right center to give Otterbein a 3-2 lead. Alyson Shaw added a run of insurance on the next at bat with single up the middle.
• Gabby Johnson cruised in the circle, as the senior allowed one earned run and two hits in seven innings of action.  

GAME TWO: DENISON – 3, OTTERBEIN – 0

• Anna Edwards entered the circle in game two and did not allow a run for the first six innings. The Big Red would break through in the seventh and get three runs off of the lefty pitcher. 
• The Cardinals had their best opportunity to score in the sixth inning, as Shaw and Wierzbicki both singled with one out in the frame. Kayla Queer had a hard hit ball to right field to end the inning and left the two runners on base.
• Herron and McCoppin were consistent in the field, as the duo combined for 10 of the team's 15 assists. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Shaw extends her current hitting streak to seven games, as the senior has a hit in 21 of 28 games this season.
• McCoppin recorded nine assists for the afternoon and is the most the freshman has had in any doubleheader this season.
• In her last four appearances in the circle, Johnson owns a 4-0 record and a 1.13 earned run average with 24 strikeouts.
• With her hit in game one, Shaw became the fourth Cardinal in program history to eclipse 200 career hits.

UP NEXT:
The Cardinals will take on cross-town rival Capital this Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. Otterbein came away with a sweep last season against the Crusaders.