AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Cardinals completed their final two games of the annual spring break trip late Friday afternoon, taking down Roanoke (6-1) before dropping a 6-0 contest with Benedictine out of Illinois.
 
Otterbein will return home with a 4-6 overall record after playing a difficult slate of competition, with three of those losses happening by two runs or less.
 
Bryn Grabowski made another strong appearance in the pitching circle and was backed offensively by her teammates. Several standout plays held off further damage in the second contest, but ultimately the Eagles found more gaps in the field to out-hit the Cardinals.
 
More on both games below!
 
ROANOKE:
 

• Otterbein scored half of its runs in the first inning thanks to a three-run double by Taylor Baran. Sage Jenkins, Caroline Heller, and Megan Payne loaded the bases just prior and a rip to right-center brought all three home.
   
• The Cardinals added an additional run during the second inning and two more in the fifth. Otterbein earned nine total hits which translated into six runs, while the Maroons found five hits while only scoring once in the seventh inning.
   
• Three batters found themselves hitting doubles, with freshman Caitlin Wilkins having two herself in the game.
   
• Grabowski faced 26 batters over seven innings and only allowed one run with seven strikeouts. She currently sits atop the OAC for strikeouts, having totaled 40 on the season so far.

BENEDICTINE:

• Friday's second contest didn't feature quite as much offense, with the Cards only finding three hits and unfortunately leaving six runners on base. Benedictine had nine total hits, with six of those turning into runs on the board.
   
• The Eagles earned the lead (for good) in the top of the second by scoring four runs. Three of those came from doubles that hit the fence.
   
• The remaining two runs came in the fifth inning off of solid hits that broke through the infield. Benedictine had three stolen bases, two of which placed runners in scoring position and led to eventual insurance runs.
   
• Heller was one of three Cardinals who managed a hit during the contest, and the junior has notched 14 total over the ten games played this spring.

 
RETURNING HOME:
 
The Cardinals will be on the road Thursday battling the Big Red from Denison in their first game back in Ohio, with the opener of the double-header starting at 3:30 p.m.