NCAA PRESS CONFERENCE
 
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Otterbein softball dropped its first game of the NCAA Tournament by a final of 15-0 in five innings against No. 6 Illinois Wesleyan, as the Cardinals have won five of their last seven games.

Otterbein falls to 24-16 on the year, while the nationally-ranked Titans improve 34-7 overall.

The Titans started second team All-American Ally Wiegand in the circle who led the nation with a 0.39 earned run average heading into the game. Wiegand lived up to the hype and slowed down the hot-hitting Cardinals.

Gabby Johnson started in the circle for Otterbein and allowed two runs in the first inning. The Cardinals first baserunner came in the third inning, as Alyson Shaw hit a single into right field. Katrina Wierzbicki had a sacrifice bunt to move the senior to second base, but the Cardinals were unable to score Shaw.

The Titans rallied in the fourth inning to score 10 runs and built a 15-run edge.

Illinois Wesleyan will play in the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in the winner's game tomorrow. Otterbein will face No. 25 Calvin at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game, as the winner will take on the loser between IWU and MSOE at 4 p.m.

• Note all game times are Central Time Zone.