GAMBIER, Ohio – Coming off a 13-3 spring break record compiled in Fort Myers, Florida, the Kenyon College softball team held its home-opening doubleheader Thursday against the Otterbein University Cardinals. The Ladies, however, could not slow down the Otterbein offense and were defeated 9-0 in game one and then 11-4 in game two.

Otterbein pitcher Gabby Johnson was a thorn in Kenyon's side throughout the day. In game one, she held the Ladies scoreless while yielding just two hits in three innings of work.

The Ladies' best opportunity against Johnson came in the first inning. A leadoff single from Grace Finn, followed by a stolen base and a fielder's choice, put Ladies on second and third with no outs. Johnson then got a strikeout and started to work her way out of the jam. Another fielder's choice ended with Finn thrown out a home. The Kenyon threat fizzled after a foul out ended the inning with two runners left in scoring position.

When the teams flipped to the top of the second inning, the Cardinals roughed up Kenyon starter Austen Whibley. Otterbein posted six runs in the frame, belting seven hits, including four doubles.

Three straight hits in the top of the fourth inning led to a couple more Otterbein runs and an 8-0 lead. Kenyon failed to answer and the Cardinals tacked on an unearned run in the fifth, eventually leading to an early conclusion in the fifth inning via the eight-run rule.

Kenyon's only other hit in game one was a third-inning single from freshman Sara Campagna.

In game two, Otterbein inserted Anna Edwards into the lineup as the starting pitcher. Kenyon took advantage and tallied a two-run first inning. Campagna scored Kenyon's first run after getting on base with a one-out double. Britny Patterson walked and, a couple batters later, Lauren Graf singled through the right side to score Kathryn Riggs, who pinch ran for Patterson.

The Ladies tacked on one more in the bottom of the second inning. Bella Albrecht got things going with a walk. She advanced to second on a passed ball and then scored on a double struck by Finn.

After that, Johnson made her way back the pitching circle for the Cardinals and nearly shut the Ladies down the rest of the way. In all, Johnson threw five innings on the day. She didn't walk a batter. She gave up just two hits and struck out four, while earning the pitching win in both games.

Meanwhile, freshman pitcher Emily Pater cruised through the first two innings for the Ladies. In the third, however, things fell apart. Otterbein scored five runs on five hits and an error. The Cardinals kept attacking in the fourth, racking up another three runs on four hits and another Kenyon error.

That was the end of the road for Pater, who gave way to classmate Tori Rogers. She pitched to the end of the sixth inning, giving up three Otterbein runs on three hits and a walk.

Trailing 11-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Ladies scored on last time when Finn tripled home Albrecht. Kenyon didn't score in the seventh and finished the game with four runs on five hits.

Finn was a combined 3-for-7 with two RBI in the doubleheader. Campagna was 2-for-6 with a run scored.