WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It was a tough day, against a tough opponent, on the diamond for Otterbein as the Cardinals endured a conference sweep at the hands of reigning OAC champ Mount Union on Saturday afternoon.

The Purple Raiders, fresh off a 38-win campaign that ended in the NCAA Regional finals, emerged by scores of 2-0 and 10-1 to remain perfect in league play this year. Otterbein falls back to 1-3 against the OAC at the same time.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:

• A standout pitching matchup began the day as Riley Hamm and Kendyl Cahill took the circle, and the game saw just six combined hits across the two sides.
   
• Mount took an early 1-0 lead in the first on a rundown sequence, as the lead runner scampered home from third after the batter reached base on a throwing error (sac bunt) and then strategically got herself held up between first and second.
   
• Kennedi Endsley began the offensive day for Otterbein with a hit, but the Cards would muster just one more the entire contest (coming from Caitlin Wilkins in the seventh) as Cahill went the distance.
   
• Mount Union added a second run on a sac fly in the fourth, and threatened in the fifth with the bases loaded and no outs. But a controversial double-play flyout allowed Hamm to elude any real damage on the scoreboard.
   
• Otterbein got the tying run to the plate in its final at-bat, but Cahill finished the job and improved to 9-2 this season. She had 11 strikeouts and no walks.
   
• Hamm was also sharp in the circle despite having to absorb the loss, allowing just one (unearned) run over her complete-game effort.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Raiders manufactured an early run in the rematch and then Cahill (starting again in the circle) helped herself with a two-run homer.
   
• Mount added to that lead in the fourth when leadoff hitter Sydney Mercer launched a three-run blast to left field.
   
• Otterbein later trailed 10-0 and worked to try and avoid a run-rule decision, as Isa Lewis earned an RBI groundout over to the right side. Unfortunately, the Cardinals weren't able to generate much more against Cahill as the game ended after five full.

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART:

Otterbein will travel to Kenyon College this coming Monday afternoon for a rescheduled non-conference doubleheader, with start time slated at 4 p.m. The full solar eclipse is expected to take place sometime during pregame.