ADA, Ohio – Over the winter time, the Otterbein softball program (under new leadership and featuring a small roster) was picked to finish dead last of 10 teams in the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason poll.

Fast forward to May, and the Cardinals had admirably worked their way into the OAC Tournament… featuring the top-four schools from the regular season in a double-elimination event. The winner earns an automatic bid to compete in the NCAA Division III Championships.

Otterbein qualified as the No. 4 seed and, after waiting an extra day due to inclement weather, took the diamond Saturday at Ohio Northern. The Cardinals would unfortunately drop a 1-0 nail-biter against the top-seeded Polar Bears, before succumbing to a late push by Muskingum in the nightcap.

As a result, the Cardinals finish their first season under head coach Bruce Anderson with a solid 23-13 record.

OHIO NORTHERN RECAP (L 1-0):
Jess Gunter, a fifth-year graduate student, went pitch for pitch with Ohio Northern ace Ashley Lesner in the circle. Both hurlers kept the game scoreless by the midway point of the fifth inning.

Gunter faced the minimum through three and did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, providing her offense time to find momentum. The Cardinals had an early opportunity, loading the bases (with just one out) in the first inning before a strikeout and groundout halted the sequence.

The difference would be an unearned run by Ohio Northern in the bottom of the fifth. The Polar Bears advanced a runner to second with two outs, and a single to first base would allow a run to come around and cross.

Otterbein was caught stealing to end the sixth, and later had the tying run in scoring position during the seventh before Lenser (11-2) escaped once again.

Both Gunter and Lenser pitched to contact on the day, tallying just three strikeouts and watching their defenses work behind. Just nine total hits, and one walk, were tallied at the plate.

Isa Lewis was 2 for 3 in the Cardinal lineup, the game's only player with multiple hits.

MUSKINGUM RECAP (L 9-2):
The Muskies, losing 8-0 to Mount Union in the opening game of the day, came back around to take on Otterbein in the elimination contest. A scoreless deadlock was in effect through three full, as Bryn Grabowski and Hannah Smith pitched around early doubles in their respective third frames.

Muskingum used a pair of doubles to ultimately plate three runs in the fourth, albeit the latter two being unearned. The Muskies led just 1-0 with two outs before a Cardinal fielding error prolonged the inning. A two-out double then extended the opposition's lead to 3-0.

Otterbein shook off that blow to get on the scoreboard, crossing two in the bottom half thanks to a trio of Muskie defensive errors. The Cards appeared primed for more runs as the bases were juiced with just one out, but Smith escaped the jam with back-to-back swinging strikeouts.

A pair of Otterbein errors loaded the bases for Muskingum (with two outs) in the next frame, but Grabowski induced a popup to her catcher Caroline Heller and got back into the dugout.

Senior Savannah McCoppin, having won an OAC Tournament as a freshman back in 2019, tried her best to manufacture a tying run in the fifth. She legged out an infield single to third base with two outs, then stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by the catcher. Unfortunately, another swinging K left her stranded.

The Muskies used that momentum in their next at-bat, scoring six times (mostly with two outs) in the sixth to blow the game open. A difference making 3-RBI single from Claire Warschauer ended up being a huge difference.

Otterbein couldn't quite catch up, drawing two walks in the final plate appearance before the last-ditch effort stalled. Smith finished with seven strikeouts in seven innings, allowing just three hits in the process.

Both teams combined for nine errors in the game, which allowed Muskingum to stay alive and get a rematch with Mount Union in the consolation ladder. The Raiders lost a tight 6-4 game with ONU in the winner's section.

Otterbein will say farewell to a strong senior class, while also regrouping over the summer and looking to come back even stronger in 2022-23.