BEXLEY, Ohio - The Otterbein softball team came away with a sweep over rival Capital Saturday afternoon, as
Maria Herron hit a go ahead home run in the top of the seventh inning in game one. Otterbein improves to 18-12 on the year and 9-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), while Capital falls to 10-24 overall and 2-10 in the league.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME ONE: OTTERBEIN - 3, CAPITAL - 2
- The Cardinals scored early in the game, as Katrina Wierzbicki hit an infield single to score Herron in the first inning. Capital would respond in the bottom half of the frame by scoring off of a hit by pitch.
- Courtney Hackney stepped up to the plate in the fourth inning and gave Otterbein the lead with a solo home run to center field. The Crusaders once again had an answer, as Alyx Slusher hit a home run to tie the game at 2-2.
- In the seventh inning, Herron hit her team-high fifth home run to deep center field to give Otterbein a 3-2 edge. Gabby Johnson had no problem in the bottom half of the frame, as the senior pitcher retired all three of the batters she faced.
GAME TWO: OTTERBEIN - 9, CAPITAL - 1 (FINAL 5)
- Otterbein once again scored in the first inning, however this time around the Cardinals scored seven runs compared to one in the first game. Alyson Shaw singled to left field to score Herron for her ninth RBI of the year.
- Wierzbicki would single up the middle on the next at bat, as Shaw used her speed and scored from second base to give Otterbein a 2-0 lead. Wierzbicki came around to score later in the inning, as Kayla Queer hit into a fielder's choice.
- Hannah Lewis recorded one of her two RBI's with an infield single. After batting through the lineup, Herron cleared the bases with a double down the left field line to give Otterbein a 7-0 advantage.
- Anna Edwards cruised in the circle, as the senior pitched four innings and allowed three hits and one earned run. Alex McComb came on in relief in the fifth inning to seal the deal for the Cardinals.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Shaw extends her hitting streak to nine games and has reached base safely in 12-straight contests.
- Lewis came into the day with one RBI on the year and drove two runs in the second game of the doubleheader.
- With the win in game one, Johnson moves into second place in the OAC with 12 wins on the season. Herron is now fourth in the conference with five home runs this year, and is one back of being tied for second.
- As a staff, Otterbein currently has the second best ERA with a 2.82 average in the league.
UP NEXT:
The Cardinals will have a battle with Ohio Northern next Tuesday at 3 p.m., as the Polar Bears are currently in first place in the conference with an 11-1 record.
