CLERMONT, Fla. – A pair of Thursday tussles for Otterbein at The Spring Games ended in varying one-run results, as the Cardinals outlasted Elizabethtown to begin the day before coming up just short against Johnson & Wales under the lights at Legends Way.

The Cardinals now stand 4-4 on the trip with two games left on Friday, looking to finishing above .500 and return home on a high note.

ELIZABETHTOWN RECAP (W 4-3):

Otterbein digested some breakfast and lunch during a long wait to play, eventually taking the diamond for its first game come mid-afternoon at Legends Way behind Riley Hamm in the circle.

Both sides traded runs early, including the Cardinals plating a run in the second on a sacrifice fly from Caitlin Wilks, before the contest remained deadlocked at 1-1 midway through the fifth.

Otterbein pieced together a huge sequence in the bottom half that would eventually prove vital, as a leadoff single from Rachel Miller forced a pitching change to begin. Wilkins and Avery Yoder furthered the sequence with timely bunts to move runners, while Lexi Hart and Caroline Heller smacked RBI hits to put the Cardinals ahead 4-1 by the time the field flipped over.

Elizabethtown came charging in the seventh during its final at-bat, scoring twice before Hamm induced a popup to Megan Payne at first base that left a potential tying run stranded at second.

Miller hit a perfect 3 for 3 offensively while Hamm struck out six batters.

JOHNSON & WALES RECAP (L 1-0):

The Wildcats ended up emerging from this low-scoring battle in a competitive nightcap, plating an unearned run in the third inning that would prove to be the difference. A pair of runners reached via throwing errors, and cleanup hitter Hailey Erickson's RBI-single would plate the lone run all night.

Otterbein stayed close behind the pitching of Kiley King, who pitched six strong frames despite eventually having to absorb the loss.

The Cardinals had a prime opportunity to steal the game in their final at-bat, with Megan Payne smoking a double and pinch hitter Alex Newsome walking to become the winning run aboard. Unfortunately, a groundout back to the pitcher would help JWU prevail.

Kennedi Endsley was 2 for 3 from the leadoff spot in Otterbein's lineup, while both sides left seven runners stranded on base during the evening affair.

FRIDAY FINALES:

The Cardinals will play Alvernia (9:15 a.m.) to begin the morning and follow with their last game against Penn State Behrend at 1:30 p.m.