WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It was a long, tough and cold home opener for the Otterbein softball team on Thursday afternoon, which was unfortunately dealt a pair of losses by Denison in a rescheduled twinbill from the day prior.

The marathon contests began at 3:30 p.m. and the rematch was eventually called due to darkness with one inning left, as the Big Red emerged by scores of 9-7 and 7-3.

GAME 1 RECAP:

• It was all Denison early as the visitors posted a six-pack of runs in their first at-bat, forcing the Cardinals into an early pitching change.
   
• The Big Red later threatened a potential run-rule outcome by standing on top 8-0 midway through the fourth inning, but a gritty home side began working its way back with a pair of runs. Megan Payne and Caitlin Wilkins delivered RBI singles to get the team on the board.
   
• Otterbein later trailed 9-2 with just six outs to play with, but made it very interesting with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Multiple hits led into a two-run bomb to straightaway center off the bat of Emma Calkins in the cleanup spot.
   
• The tying run got on base in the bottom of the seventh, but a tough swinging strikeout would allow the Big Red to survive that late Cardinal rally.
   
• Calkins, Caroline Heller and Rachel Miller all tallied multiple hits in the game, while Kiley King provided some long relief to give Otterbein a chance to climb back.

GAME 2 RECAP:

• Denison scored another two runs during its first plate appearance in the rematch… after an extended wait between games.
   
• Otterbein sliced that in half during the bottom of the first when Isa Lewis, earning a "toughness" badge on the day as the only Cardinal wearing short sleeves, capped off three-straight singles to bring Heller across.
   
• That scored remained intact as a pitching battle ensued between Maggie McVicker and Sydney Silverstein. However, the Big Red cracked through with a trio of runs in the top of the fifth.
   
• Otterbein attempted to stay close by getting two back in the bottom half thanks to RBI pokes from Calkins and recent sub Alex Newsome, but Denison countered with another deuce in a lengthy sixth.
   
• The Cardinals tried making a push in what would end up being their final at-bat. Despite the home announcer (raises hand) saying her last name incorrectly, pinch hitter Ella Pfaffl stayed focused to draw a leadoff walk. She was later joined on base by Kennedi Endsley as the lineup turned over, but the inning stalled and the game was called due to darkness.

UP NEXT:

The Cardinals will look to regroup quickly as Ohio Athletic Conference play kicks off Friday afternoon across town, with the team traveling over to play rival Capital in a pair of games beginning at 1 p.m.