MARIETTA, Ohio – A nice bounce-back mentality was on display for Otterbein across a pair of games Thursday afternoon down at Marietta College, as the Cards worked back to split a road doubleheader in conference action.
The twinbill, originally scheduled for Tuesday before inclement weather conditions bumped it 48 hours, ended with each time winning by identical scores of 12-4. Marietta pulled away in the opener before Otterbein gathered itself nicely for the rematch.
GAME 1 RECAP:
Otterbein led 3-0, thanks to initial RBI from
Macy Allen and
Sage Jenkins, before Marietta took the lead for good with a five-run output in the third. The Cards got to within 5-4 in the fifth after
Megan Payne smoked a double to center field… but the host Pioneers erupted with seven runs over the next two frame.
Their second five-run inning, this time in the sixth, would create enough separation for a run-rule ending in a somewhat lengthy game. Payne reached base three times while the Cards drew six walks altogether, including two from
Taylor Baran.
Marietta launched three home runs, settled with a 10-5 hit advantage and received six RBI from designated player Jess Brown.
GAME 2 RECAP:
After its widest loss of the season, Otterbein showed nice grit with a short memory and flying back to gain momentum in the rematch. The Cards plated three in their opening at-bat via RBI hits from
Caroline Heller and Baran, sandwiched around a double steal involving
Savannah McCoppin.
The Pioneers threw the next figurative punch with a four-run effort in the second, and carried that narrow cushion all the way into the fifth…
After four-straight innings with a zero on the board, Otterbein exploded at the plate to begin the top of the fifth. Three-straight singles kickstarted the stretch and then RBI pokes from Heller,
Hannah Lewis and Baran (double) forced a pitching change.
The Cards jumped ahead 7-4 after that rally, and kept their foot on the gas with another five runs in the sixth. Culminating the flurry was a two-run homer from
Hannah Lewis to straightaway center.
Bryn Grabowski was lock down after that tough second inning, keeping Marietta grounded en route to another complete game. She fanned six Pioneers over the six innings of work, advancing her record to 9-2 this spring.
Otterbein smacked around 13 hits collectively and chalked up four RBI off the bats of Lewis and Heller.
IT'S THE WEEKEND:
Otterbein (15-5, 4-2 OAC) will get right back on the road Sunday morning, heading up to Alliance for a doubleheader at Mount Union. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
