ADA — The Otterbein softball team dropped an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at Ohio Northern on Tuesday. The Polar Bears won the first game 6-0 and outlasted the Cardinals 13-12 in eight innings in game two. Graduate student Caroline Heller impressed with a 5-for-5 showing in the second game, and senior Isa Lewis recorded her 100th career hit.

The Basics

• Records: Otterbein (13-16 overall, 4-9 OAC), Ohio Northern (15-17 overall, 10-4 OAC)
• Venue: Durbin-Hileman Stadium - Ada, Ohio

Otterbein Stat Leaders - Game 1

• Heller had Otterbein's lone extra-base hit of the game, recording a double.
• Juniors Caitlin Wilkins, Emma Calkins and Rachel Miller had one hit each.
• Freshman Evie Lehman got the start in the pitching circle and allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.1 innings.

Game 1 Highlights - Ohio Northern 6, Otterbein 0

• ONU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out 2-RBI double.
• Otterbein recorded its first hits of the game with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Heller hit a double followed by a single from Calkins that put runners on first and third, but the Cardinals were unable to capitalize.
• The Polar Bears added four more runs in the fifth inning for a 6-0 lead.
• The Cardinals were held to one hit in each of the final two innings as ONU closed out the shutout.
• ONU out-hit Otterbein by a 12-4 margin. Otterbein committed one error to Ohio Northern's none.

Otterbein Stat Leaders - Game 2

• Heller was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a double to go with three RBIs and four runs.
• Miller tallied three hits, including a triple, to go with two RBIs, two runs and one steal.
• Calkins posted two hits, including a double, to go with two RBIs.
• Wilkins added two hits, one RBI, two runs and one steal.
• Freshman Addison Yoder had one hit and two RBIs.
• Freshman Kylie Galownia tallied two hits, one RBI and one run.

Game 2 Highlights - Ohio Northern 13, Otterbein 12

• After being held scoreless in the opening game, Otterbein struck quickly in the rematch with four runs in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Kennedi Endsley led off by reaching safely on an error, and Wilkins followed with a bunt single that put runners on first and third. Endsley then scored when Wilkins stole second base, and Heller added an RBI single. A one-out RBI single from Miller put Otterbein up 3-0, and she later came home when Galownia reached on an ONU error. The Cardinals finished the opening frame with five hits.
• ONU responded with five runs in the bottom of the first inning and one more in the second for a 6-4 lead.
• The Cardinals stormed back with five more runs in the top of the third, all coming with two outs. Wilkins got the scoring started with an RBI single, and Calkins added a 2-RBI double. Yoder hit a 2-RBI single, putting Otterbein up 9-6, and a Galownia single loaded the bases before ONU was able to record the final out of the inning. The Cardinals tallied seven hits in the frame.
• The Polar Bears plated a run in the bottom of the third to get back within two, 9-7.
• The Otterbein offense continued to find success in the top of the fourth. Heller hit a one-out RBI double, and Miller added a two-out RBI triple for an 11-7 lead.
• ONU tied the score at 11-11 with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
• Both teams scored a run in the sixth inning, tying the score at 12-12. Otterbein's run come via a solo homer from Heller.
• A scoreless seventh inning sent the game to extra innings. Otterbein recorded three straight flyouts in the top of the eighth, and ONU plated the winning run on an RBI single that followed a leadoff double.
• Each team recorded 17 hits in the game. Otterbein committed five errors to Ohio Northern's two.

Notables 

• Heller has 151 hits, 37 doubles and 84 RBIs in her Otterbein career. She is tied for third all-time at Otterbein in doubles, tied for seventh in RBIs and ranks 12th in hits.
• Heller's home run was her first of the season and the third of her career.
• Lewis has 100 hits, 57 RBIs and 30 steals in her Otterbein career.
• Named the OAC Rookie of the Year in 2024, Endsley has 70 hits and 31 steals in her Otterbein career.
• Entering Tuesday, sophomore Maggie McVicker was tied for 10th in the OAC in RBIs (25). Heller ranked eighth in batting average (.429), and Endsley ranked fifth in steals (13) and seventh in runs (30). In the circle, Lehman ranked ninth in strikeouts (34).
• Head coach Bruce Anderson is in his fourth year at Otterbein and has an all-time record of 66-68-1 at the helm of the Cardinals.