CLERMONT, Fl. – Otterbein softball battled wire‑to‑wire in both Friday contests, walking off North Park for a 6–5 victory before coming up just short in an 8–7 slugfest against Marywood.

Game One – Otterbein 6, North Park 5
Otterbein opened the day with grit and late‑game poise, walking off North Park in extra innings to secure a 6–5 victory.

The Cardinals jumped ahead early with a three‑run first inning, highlighted by RBI knocks from Emma Calkins and Maggie McVicker, plus an aggressive baserunning sequence that pushed a third run across. After North Park rallied to tie the game 3–3 in the third, Otterbein answered immediately as Emily Black delivered a go‑ahead RBI single.

North Park forced an extra inning with a run in the seventh, but Otterbein refused to let the momentum slip. In the eighth, Kennedi Endsley dropped a bunt single to load the bases, and Calkins delivered the decisive blow in the form of a two‑run double to right field that plated Ciana D'Antoni and Lindsay Hubaker for the walk‑off win.

On the mound, Kiley King steadied the Cardinals with 4.2 strong innings of relief before Kara Mekulsia closed the door in the eighth to earn the win.

Game Two – Marywood 8, Otterbein 7
The afternoon matchup was a battle with both teams trading punches before Marywood edged ahead late.

Otterbein's offense stayed hot, collecting nine hits and scoring in four straight innings. Liyah Smith tied the game 2–2 in the second with a two‑run single and Mae Meldrum added two RBI, including a sacrifice fly in the third and a groundout in the fifth that pulled the Cards within one.

The biggest swing came in the fourth when Kameron Biederman launched a two‑run homer to left‑center, giving Otterbein a 5-4 lead. Ciana D'Antoni continued her standout day with a three‑hit performance, including a double.

Marywood answered with a three‑run fourth and later broke the 7–7 tie in the sixth on a solo homer. Otterbein brought the tying run aboard in the seventh, but the Pacers held on to escape with the one‑run win.

The Cardinals return to the diamond next in their first Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader, traveling to Marietta College on Saturday, March 21. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. as Otterbein looks to carry its momentum into league play.