KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Strong pitching from freshmen Evie Lehman and Addison Yoder propelled the Otterbein softball team to victories over Skidmore (N.Y.) 8-0 and Utica (N.Y.) 3-1 on Thursday at The Spring Games, marking the penultimate day of their spring break trip in Florida.

The Basics

• Records: Otterbein (6-2 overall), Skidmore (4-3 overall), Utica (4-4 overall)
• Venue: Fortune Road Athletic Complex - Kissimmee, Fla.

Otterbein Stat Leaders vs. Skidmore

• Lehman earned the win with a solid performance, pitching 5.0 innings. She allowed 3 hits and no runs while striking out 5 and walking 1. She faced 19 batters, throwing 71 pitches. 
• Graduate Student Caroline Heller had a standout performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a crucial RBI double and another hit. 
• Sophomore Maggie McVicker delivered at the plate with two doubles in three at-bats, driving in two runs. 
• Senior Isa Lewis contributed with a solid offensive performance, tallying two hits in three at-bats. She drove in a run and scored another.

Game 1 - Otterbein 8, Skidmore 0 (5 Innings)

• 1st Inning: Otterbein wasted no time, scoring four runs in the opening inning. Sophomore Kennedi Endsley got things started with a single, followed by junior Caitlin Wilkins' double, setting up runners in scoring position. Heller then drove in the first run with a single before stealing second. Emma Calkins drew a walk, and Maggie McVicker came through with a two-run double to center, pushing the lead to 3-0. Senior Chloe Clark capped off the inning with an RBI groundout, making it 4-0.
• 2nd Inning: The Cardinals kept the momentum going, adding another run in the second. Endsley reached on an error by the shortstop and stole second, setting the stage for Heller, who ripped an RBI double to center, bringing Endsley home. Otterbein extended its lead to 5-0.
• 3rd Inning: Otterbein continued to build on its lead in the third. McVicker led off with a double to right center. Isa Lewis then executed a well-placed bunt single, allowing McVicker to score on the throw and increasing the advantage to 6-0.
• 4th Inning: The Cardinals took advantage of defensive errors to add another run in the fourth. Endsley reached on a throwing error and moved to second, setting up another scoring opportunity. After a flyout to center, Heller reached on a fielder's choice, and Endsley came around to score on another throwing miscue. Junior Emma Calkins followed with a single through the right side, putting two runners in scoring position, but the inning ended with a flyout to center, making it 7-0.
• 5th Inning: Otterbein put the finishing touch on the game in the fifth. Lewis led off with a single to right, followed by Clark's bunt single to put two runners on. Freshman Kylie Galownia laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing both into scoring position. Moments later, Lewis crossed home on a wild pitch, securing an 8-0 run-rule victory.
• Otterbein out-hit Skidmore by a 10-3 margin. Otterbein committed zero errors to Skidmore's three.

Otterbein Stat Leaders vs. Utica

• Yoder earned the win, pitching a dominant 6.0 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out seven batters. She faced 27 batters, throwing 88 pitches, and didn't give up any runs.
• Wilkins led the team with 3 hits in 3 at-bats. She also drove in 2 RBIs, walked once, and stole a base
• Heller contributed with 2 hits in 4 at-bats. While she didn't drive in any runs, she consistently got on base with no strikeouts and added to the offensive push.
• Hart, made the most of her plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a walk, consistently applying pressure on the defense.

Game 2 - Otterbein 3, Utica 1

• 3rd Inning: Utica scored in the bottom of the 3rd after a fielding error allowed a runner to reach base, and a walk moved the runner forward. A second error on a fly ball to left field loaded the bases. A groundout to third brought in a run, giving Utica a 1-0 lead.
• 5th Inning: Otterbein took the lead in the 5th inning when Heller doubled down the right-field line. Miller then singled to shortstop, advancing Heller to third. Sophomore Ella Pfaffl followed with a single up the middle, bringing Heller home and giving Otterbein a 2-1 lead.
• 6th Inning: Otterbein extended its lead in the 6th. Junior Lexi Hart singled through the left side and was replaced by Endsley as a pinch runner. Hubaker, who entered as a designated player, laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Endsley to second. Wilkins then singled to first base, driving in Endsley to make it 3-1.
• Otterbein out-hit Utica by a 12-1 margin. Otterbein committed two errors to Utica's zero.

Notables 

• Heller has 126 hits, 33 doubles and 69 RBIs in her Otterbein career. She ranks sixth all-time in doubles.
• Lewis has 86 hits, 47 RBIs and 28 steals in her Otterbein career.
• Miller has 55 hits in her Otterbein career.
• Named the OAC Rookie of the Year in 2024, Endsley has 54 hits and 22 steals in her Otterbein career.
• Head coach Bruce Anderson is in his fourth year at Otterbein and has an all-time record of 59-54-1 at the helm of the Cardinals.