NCAA PRESS CONFERENCE

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Otterbein softball team dropped a hard-fought game, 8-6, against No. 25 Calvin in the NCAA Tournament, as the Cardinals end the year 24-17 and Calvin improves to 30-9.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Savannah McCoppin made a phenomenal play in the top of the first inning by turning a double play with the bases loaded. The freshman had a hard hit line drive right at her and had the awareness to tag the base runner on third to keep the Knights off the scoreboard.
• The Cardinals scored two runs in the bottom of the first, as Katrina Wierzbicki bunted and the Calvin fielder had a bad throw to first base which resulted in Maria Herron scoring. Kayla Queer drove in Wierzbicki later in the inning to put Otterbein up 2-0.
• Calvin did all of its damage in the second inning by scoring eight runs and batting through the lineup.
• Anna Edwards came on in relief and threw 5.1 shutout innings and kept Otterbein in the game. Edwards helped her own cause by ripping an RBI double in the gap between the right and center fielder in the third frame. 
• Alex McComb pinch hit in the same inning and had a slow roller to the shortstop, which scored the speedy pinch runner Sami Ange.
• Hannah Dobrinick drilled a shot down the left field line in the sixth inning and Queer turned on the burners to score from first base on a play at the plate to make the score 8-6. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Alyson Shaw, Gabby Johnson and Anna Edwards were a part of three Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Regular-Season Titles and two OAC Tournament Titles. Over the past four seasons Otterbein has accumulated a 120-42-2 overall record, a 73 winning percentage, and went 59-13 in conference play.
• Shaw will end her career as the program hit leader with 220 career hits and held a 19-game hitting streak this season.
• Johnson also puts her name in the record book as the program leader in appearances, wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and shutouts.
• The Knights had trouble adjusting to Edwards, as the lefty tied a career-high with eight strikeouts.

The Cardinals will return majority of the roster, but depart three key seniors in Alyson Shaw, Anna Edwards and Gabby Johnson.