ADA, Ohio – Another challenging road doubleheader within OAC play awaited the Cardinals Wednesday afternoon, and both games unfortunately went to host Ohio Northern by scores of 8-0 and 5-4 on a clear day of softball.

The Cardinals, entering the day in a wacky five-way tie atop the league standings with ONU and three others, now fall back to 7-5. Otterbein remains slightly above even in the overall column with a 13-12-1 mark.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Another first-game duel in the circle was on tap between Ashley Lenser and Bryn Grabowski, with the game remaining scoreless midway through the fourth until a two-run home gave the home side momentum.
   
• Ohio Northern added two more insurance runs in the fifth before Lenser provided herself more support with a three-run bomb in the sixth.
   
• The Cardinals managed just one hit in the game, coming on a leadoff single from Taylor Baran to start the fifth. Avery Yoder also drew a walk.
   
• ONU had three player with multi-hit games and found ten more at-bats offensively.
   

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS:

• The second affair would go down to the wire despite ONU taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning and widening the gap to 5-0 entering the sixth.
   
• Otterbein, down but not out, strung together a critical rally that created a new ball game. Caroline Heller ripped a one-out single through the left side, Megan Payne walked, and a fielding miscue by the Polar Bears led to Kendal Sestili being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
   
• A wild pitch to the next batter allowed Payne to sprint home before Jen Sindledecker launched a two-out double with the bases loaded. Two runs scored before the third Cardinal was caught in a 9-3-6 relay around third base.
   
• Otterbein had one last chance in the top of the seventh, trailing 5-4, but would be retired in order to finish the day.
   
• Sindledecker reached base all three times while Haylee Ternovan provided a nice relief effort, tossing four shutout innings in the circle to help her team hang around.
   

UP NEXT:

• The Cardinals will host Mount St. Joseph in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday on campus before traveling up to Baldwin Wallace this weekend. Inclement weather is expected on Saturday, which could potentially force rescheduling around the league.