BETHANY, W. Va. – The Otterbein softball team has continued positive momentum from the end of its recent spring trip to Florida, getting back into action Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep at Bethany College.

The Cardinals, winning by scores of 3-1 and 6-2, used solid pitching efforts from Jess Gunter and Bryn Grabowski throughout the non-conference matchups. As a result, Otterbein now stands with a 7-3 overall record.

GAME 1:
Otterbein took advantage of a Bison miscue early, as a fielding error allowed two runs to come around and score with two outs. Bethany sliced the deficit in half during the bottom of the frame on a double steal.

Gunter would keep the hosts stymied from that point, allowing no hits and facing the minimum from the third inning on. The Cards added an insurance run in the fourth.

Gunter (3-2) struck out seven batters and only issued one free base. Josie Wise was solid on the opposite pitching side despite taking the loss, fanning nine Cardinals over her complete-game effort as well.

GAME 2:
The Cardinals used a workmanlike approach in the rematch, crossing exactly one run in each inning but the last to provide Grabowski more than enough help.

Megan Payne manufactured an RBI groundout in the first, Chloe Clark and Hannah Lewis tallied RBI in the middle innings, and the sweep was on.

Bethany mustered just two hits offensively against Otterbein's promising newcomer, who struck out five over the complete-game victory. Grabowski improves to 4-1 on the young season, and Otterbein has now held eight opponents to three runs or less this season.

The Bison committed six errors in the second outing behind a pair of arms in the circle. Bethany now holds a 6-4 record as a group.

UP NEXT:
The Cardinals will have a mid-week twinbill at Bluffton before welcoming Kenyon to campus for their home opener on Friday afternoon.