CLERMONT, Fla. – It marked a tough ending to a spring trip mixed with varying results for Otterbein Softball, as the Cardinals dropped a pair of closing games to Alvernia and Penn State Behrend on Friday at Hancock Park.

Otterbein will now return home with a 4-6 record and look to keep progressing before conference play begins later this month.

ALVERNIA RECAP (L 5-1):

The Cards manufactured their lone run in the first at-bat, as a leadoff single from Caroline Heller led to a sac bunt from Chloe Clark and eventual (two out) RBI-single off the bat of Maggie McVicker.

Unfortunately, the Golden Wolves countered with three runs in the bottom half of that opening frame to take the lead for good.

Otterbein pushed another runner into scoring position in the second, but was then retired in order across the third to sixth. Kiley King provided 2.2 scoreless innings of relief to try and keep the Cards within shouting distance.

PSU BEHREND RECAP (L 6-1):

The finale was scoreless into the third before Behrend plated a trio following an Otterbein pitching change. Consecutive extra-base hits ultimately led to the Lions crossing a pair with two outs.

Otterbein got on the board in the fifth thanks to a two-out double from Isa Lewis that brought around Lexi Hart. The Cards then had two runners on in the sixth but to no avail, and loaded the bases (with one out) in the seventh before consecutive flyouts ended the trip.

The game saw a combined 21 runners left on bases between the sides.