The Muskingum softball team dropped a pair of Ohio Athletic Conferences games against Otterbein on Thursday evening at Donna J. Newberry Field, 5-0 and 5-2.

The Basics 

• Records: Muskingum (16-4 overall, 2-2 Ohio Athletic Conference), Otterbein (15-5 overall, 4-0 Ohio Athletic Conference)
• Location: New Concord, Ohio – Donna J. Newberry Field 

Inside the Numbers- Game One:

• Junior Krissy Hughes tallied the lone hit, which was a double, for the Muskies.
• Junior Rachel Eberling tossed the loss for the Muskies throwing a complete game, surrendering five runs on nine hits, and registered four strikeouts.
• Alyson Shaw and Bailey McElwain both paced the Cardinals offense by going 2-for-4 at the plate. Shaw added two runs scored and an RBI, while McElwain chipped in one run scored.
• Gabby Johnson claimed the win for Otterbein as she pitched a complete game, allowing just one hit, two walks, and eight strikeouts.

Inside the Numbers- Game Two:

• Muskingum scored two runs on seven hits.
• Sophomore Jolyn Shunk led the Muskies by going 2-for-3 at the plate, which included a double, and an RBI.
• Eberling notched one hit, one run scored, and an RBI.
• Hughes, freshman Karsyn Shaffer, and senior Haylea Debolt each added one hit, while Hughes also collected a run scored.
• Freshman Hannah Duff took the loss for Muskingum allowing five runs on seven hits.
• Maddie Flasco paced the Cardinals by going 3-for-4 at the dish, with one run scored and an RBI.
• Pitcher Rachel Owens threw a complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks for Otterbein.

Game Highlights

The first two innings of game one were silent until Otterbein broke through in the top of the third as they scored three runs to hold a 3-0 lead. A solo home run in the top of the fifth inning and an RBI double in the top of the seventh by the Cardinals held the Muskies scoreless to come away with the game one victory.

In game two, Otterbein took the early 2-0 lead over Muskingum in the top of the second inning off a two-run homer. The Muskies tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning off a run scored from Hughes and an RBI double from Shunk. In the top of the fifth inning, the Cardinals garnered an RBI single and another two-run homer to push the advantage to 5-2. Muskingum was unable to make a comeback, giving Otterbein the win.  

Up Next

• Muskingum travels to Alliance, Ohio to take on Mount Union on Friday, April 6. Game one is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. **Please note, the doubleheader at Ohio Wesleyan scheduled for Sunday, April 8 has now been postponed. A new game/date is TBA.