WESTERVILLE, Ohio- Due to unplayable field conditions in Granville, Otterbein hosted the Denison Big Red Monday afternoon for the softball home opener. The Cardinals and Big Red split the two games, with both ending in unusual fashion.
GAME ONE: DENISON- 2, OTTERBEIN- 1
Jess Gunter, the reigning Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Pitcher of the Week, took the circle for game one of the afternoon. Gunter was impressive once again, pitching six and a third innings, allowing just one run. The two sides played to a no score tie until the top of the seventh inning when the Big Red finally broke through on an RBI single to left field from Lindsey Clemson.
The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a
Katrina Wierzbicki line drive to left center that brought home
Emma Spinner,
Sage Jenkins attempted to score on the play but was called out at the plate.
Denison took the victory in the eighth inning, scoring on a wild pitch after advancing its free runner from second to third.
GAME TWO: OTTERBEIN- 4, DENISON- 3
The Cardinals once again battled from behind, trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh. With their rally caps on the Cardinals began the comeback thanks to a double to right center field from
Hannah Dobrinick. Spinner came on to run, and eventually scored when Jenkins singled up the middle following a
Hannah Lewis walk.
After the RBI single,
Sami Ange took a walk and loaded the bases for
Savannah McCoppin. Just two pitches later McCoppin was hit in the shoulder and the Cardinals earned the win on a walk-off hit by pitch.
UP NEXT:
The Cardinals will enjoy some time off before welcoming Kenyon to Westerville on Saturday for another double-header, game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.
