WESTERVILLE — The Otterbein softball team got home runs from senior Jen Sindledecker and junior Rachel Miller in a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Wesleyan in its 2025 home opener on Friday. The Cardinals took the opening game 10-1 in five innings and capped the evening with a 5-1 victory over the Battling Bishops.

The Basics

• Records: Otterbein (8-4 overall), Ohio Wesleyan (4-8 overall)
• Venue: Otterbein Softball Field - Westerville, Ohio

Otterbein Stat Leaders - Game 1

• Sophomore Maggie McVicker finished with a team-high two hits, including a double, and four RBIs.
• Sindledecker had a home run, three RBIs, one run and one steal.
• Graduate student Caroline Heller finished with one hit, one RBI and one run.
• Miller tallied a double and a run.
• Sophomore Kennedi Endsley added one hit, two runs and two steals.
• Freshman Evie Lehman pitched all five innings for the Cardinals and allowed just one run on four hits and three walks while recording two strikeouts.

Game 1 Highlights - Otterbein 10, Ohio Wesleyan 1 (5 inn.)

• The Cardinals scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning via RBI singles from Heller and McVicker.
• After OWU scored a run in the top of the third, Otterbein answered with a run in the bottom of the frame when junior Caitlin Wilkins scored on a Bishop error that allowed McVicker to reach base.
• With the Cardinals leading 3-1, Sindledecker opened a seven-run fourth inning with a three-run homer to left-center field. The inning was also highlighted by a 2-RBI double from McVicker and ended with the Cardinals leading 10-1.
• Lehman worked around a one-out walk to secure the win for Otterbein with a strikeout and popout, ending the game via the mercy rule.
• Otterbein out-hit OWU by an 8-4 margin. Otterbein committed no errors to Ohio Wesleyan's three.

Otterbein Stat Leaders - Game 2

• Freshman Kaylie Eichorn had a team-high three hits, including a double, and two RBIs to go with one run and two steals.
• Wilkins posted two hits, one run and one steal.
• Miller had a home run, one RBI and one run.
• Heller added one hit and one RBI.
• Freshman Addison Yoder got the pitching start for Otterbein and allowed one run on seven hits and five walks while recording three strikeouts over four innings to earn the win.
• Junior Kiley King entered the game in a critical spot in the fifth inning and pitched a scoreless final three frames with one strikeout to earn the save.

Game 2 Highlights - Otterbein 5, Ohio Wesleyan 1

• OWU opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, but Otterbein had a big response in the form of a five-run second inning.
• In the bottom of the second, Miller hit a leadoff home run, and the Cardinals later put runners on second and third with no outs. Eichorn added a 2-RBI double and later stole home on a double steal with Wilkins to put Otterbein up 4-1. A two-out RBI single from Heller made it a 5-1 lead.
• The Bishops loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth, and the Cardinals replaced Yoder in the pitching circle with King. King subsequently induced three consecutive outs, including one strikeout, to get Otterbein out of the jam.
• King closed out the game with two straight 1-2-3 innings over the sixth and seventh to secure the win for Otterbein.
• Otterbein out-hit OWU by a 9-7 margin. Otterbein committed no errors to Ohio Wesleyan's one.

Notables 

• Heller has 130 hits, 34 doubles and 75 RBIs in her Otterbein career. She is tied for fifth all-time in doubles.
• Senior Isa Lewis has 86 hits, 47 RBIs and 28 steals in her Otterbein career.
• Named the OAC Rookie of the Year in 2024, Endsley has 60 hits and 25 steals in her Otterbein career.
• Miller has 58 hits in her Otterbein career.
• Sindledcker's home run was the first of her career.
• Miller's home run was the second of her career.
• Head coach Bruce Anderson is in his fourth year at Otterbein and has an all-time record of 61-56-1 at the helm of the Cardinals.