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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein softball team endured its first two home losses of the season after dropping an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader to Ohio Northern across Wednesday afternoon, in what was a twinbill rescheduled multiple times due to inclement weather and the recent holiday weekend.

GAME 1 RECAP (L 9-1 – 6 innings):
The Polar Bears plated four runs in both the first and fifth innings en route to the six-inning victory. Otterbein's lone run came on a ground out to second by sophomore Taylor Baran that scored classmate Caroline Heller in the second.

Senior Sage Jenkins, Heller and freshman Isa Lewis recorded the three hits for the Cards. Freshman pitcher Bryn Grabowski fell to 12-3 on the year after surrendering eight runs (five earned) on 11 hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 4.2 innings of work. Junior Haylee Ternovan threw the final 1.1 innings, allowing a run on four hits with a free pass.

ONU freshman pitcher Ashley Lenser (coming off a no-hitter against Muskingum) improved to 6-2 on the season after scattering three hits, striking out two and walking four. Rachel Hish went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, while Abby Elliott collected three hits, including the game's only home run. Lauren Renner, Taylor Hilty and Lauren Walls also registered multiple hits.

GAME 2 RECAP (L 2-1):
Like the first contest, the Polar Bears scored in their first plate appearance. Renner and Sydney Motylinski both drove in runs with base hits. Otterbein cut the deficit in half in the third when Macy Allen scored on a ground ball hit by Savannah McCoppin.

Otterbein had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the fourth with the bases loaded and one out. However, a strikeout and some base-running indecision got the Polar Bears out of the jam. The Cards also had the game-tying run in scoring position with one out in the sixth, but a foul out to third and a fly out to center put an end to the threat.

Both pitchers held the opposition to five hits. Graduate Jess Gunter (8-5) took the loss with three strikeouts, one walk and two hit batters. Jenkins and Megan Payne each logged extra-base hits, while McCoppin and Chloe Clark both swiped one base.

Allie Bican (2-1) earned the win for ONU with five strikeouts, four free passes and a hit batter. Motylinski registered two of the team's five hits.

ON DECK:
Otterbein (20-8, 7-5 OAC) wraps up the home portion of its schedule this Saturday with another key league doubleheader, as Muskingum travels to Westerville for start time at 1 p.m. It will also be Senior Day on campus.