GAMBIER, Ohio – Down by three runs in the seventh inning, the Kenyon College (11-8-1) softball team rallied for a 12-11 win over Otterbein University in the opener before the second contest was called due to darkness resulting in a 6-6 tie.
 
GAME ONE
 
There was plenty of offensive firepower in the first game between the Cardinals and Ladies as the two teams combined for 23 runs on 30 hits.
 
The visitors had a 3-1 lead heading into the home half of the second before Kenyon collected some hits to take the lead. It started as Madi Maldonado connected with a two-out double to left center plating two base-runners. Following an Amanda Ogata single, Lindsey Susolik came up to bat and added another two-bagger allowing two more runs to score. That pushed the score to 5-3, Ladies.
 
After a scoreless third frame, both teams added three runs in the fourth. Kenyon's scoring turned out to be crucial as a pair of dropped fly balls kept the inning going and Mari Colucci delivered a pinch-hit, two-out, bases-clearing triple to center that gave Kenyon an 8-6 advantage.  
 
Heading to the sixth, Otterbein was able to get a run on the board as Megan Garner singled to left field allowing Alyson Shaw to score.
 
Down by one, the Cardinals then retook the lead in the seventh. A two-run single from Maddie Flasco put Otterbein back up 9-8. They scored twice more as Garner drove in a run on a double and Bailey McElwain scored from third on a grounder.
 
Despite relinquishing the lead, the Ladies still had hopes of victory after another solid showing from their offense.
 
Otterbein switched pitchers in the home half of the seventh and Kenyon made them pay. Austen Whibley gave Kenyon a run as she absolutely crushed a shot over right center bringing the score to 11-9. A few batters later Jane Ghublikian singled through the left side scoring Nicole Horita. Then in the final two plate appearances of the game, Ogata had a run-scoring single and Susolik delivered the game-winning hit as she connected to center field plating Ghublikian.
 
GAME TWO
 
The second contest started well for Kenyon as they gained a 5-1 advantage heading to the third inning.
 
With the score tied at one, freshman Grace Pilz recorded her first collegiate homer in the second as she sent a shot over the left-center fence. The Ladies also got a few more runs on a Ghublikian sacrifice fly, and run-scoring hits from Maldonado and Ogata.
 
 
Down four runs, the Cardinals fought back to tie the game in the third. With one out and a pair of runners along the base path, Rachael Owens hit a single to right center scoring McElwain and Flasco. Four batters later, Niki Weaver hit a two-out single to right field which scored two more and tied the game at 5.
 
Kenyon retook the lead in the fourth as Maldonado hit her first home run of the season.
 
With the score 6-5 Kenyon, it wasn't until the seventh inning that Otterbein was able to tie the affair again. A leadoff hit from McElwain brought Garner up to bat and the sophomore hit a double to left field. The Cardinals still had an opportunity to take the lead again, but Kenyon reentered Whibley in the circle and the freshman helped induce three straight outs to keep the score at 6-6.
 
The Ladies came up to bat in the seventh but only got one runner on as Pilz was walked with two outs. The final play before the game was called by the umpires was a popout ending any opportunity for a Ladies win.
 
Next up for Kenyon is its North Coast Athletic Conference opener with a doubleheader against Oberlin College starting April 2 at 1 p.m.