BEREA, Ohio – A narrow loss from game one trickled into a tougher outcome in the rematch at Baldwin Wallace for the Otterbein softball group Saturday afternoon, watching the host Yellow Jackets emerge on final counts of 6-5 and 13-4.

Baldwin Wallace leapfrogs Otterbein in the conference standings as a result of the sweep, moving to 8-6 against the league while dropping the Cards to an even 7-7. Four more OAC games remain on the schedule before the postseason tournament.

FULL STANDINGS HERE

GAME ONE RECAP:

• Otterbein used the longball to grab a 2-0 lead in the second inning, getting a leadoff homer from Taylor Baran and then a two-out solo blast from Sydni Clever.
   
• BW got even in the third on a 2-RBI double with two outs, and plated three more in the next frame to open a 5-2 cushion.
   
• The Cards soared right back in the fifth by another one swing of the bat, this time watching Caroline Heller launch a bases-clearing double to bring around a three-piece combo of teammates.
   
• A defensive miscue hurt the Cardinals in the bottom half as Baldwin Wallace edged back in front, 6-5, after a fielding error.
   
• Heller ripped a one-out double in the seventh to represent the tying run in scoring position, but the next two hitters were unfortunately retired.
   
• Pitchers Bryn Grabowski and Marisa Hall both had near identical stat lines across the board, with each going the full game.

GAME TWO RECAP:

• Things wouldn't quite be as kind to the Cardinals in the rematch, albeit only trailing 5-4 midway through the game.
   
• BW took an immediate 3-0 lead in the first inning but Otterbein regrouped, using a workmanlike effort over the next two frames in manufacturing a pair in both. Culminating the stretch was a 2-RBI single up the gut from Baran.
   
• Unfortunately, the Yelloew Jackets took control from that point with a combined 10 runs over their next three at-bats. Five in the fifth, including a two-out homer, created too much of a gap.
   
• Baran and Kendall Sestili both had two-hit performances in the Cardinal lineup.

MOVING FORWARD:

• The Cardinals will return home and first begin tackling final exams, taking the middle of the week off before hosting a key doubleheader with Muskingum.