Softball sweeps Otterbein to clinch OAC Tournament Berth

The Muskingum softball team swept Otterbein in an OAC showdown on Saturday afternoon. With the doubleheader sweep, the Muskies claimed an OAC Tournament berth. The Muskies won game one 7-3, and secured a shutout 3-0 victory in the nightcap.

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (27-7 Overall, 13-3 OAC), Otterbein (20-10 Overall, 7-7 OAC)
• Location: Rike Field – Westerville, Ohio

 OAC Tournament

• At the end of the season, the top four teams advance to the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.
• Muskingum enters the final week of a league play with a 13-3 record and is currently in second place in the league. The Muskies wrap up their regular season by hosting Wilmington on Saturday, April 30.

 How it Happened – Game One

• Otterbein struck first off a base clearing three-RBI double from Taylor Baran. The Cardinals jumped to an early 3-0 lead after the opening inning.
• The Muskies struck back in the second inning off a Carlee Lamacz sacrifice bunt and a Kodi Brenner RBI single up the middle to draw within a run one of the Cardinals. 
• Muskingum recaptured the lead in the third off a Sarah Piteo rip to left field, while Claire Warschauer scored from third off a Brenner walk. Muskingum held a 5-3 advantage after three innings of play.
• Muskingum scored their final three runs in the sixth off a Taylor Gallintine double, a Katie Osburn sacrifice fly, and a Piteo single up the middle.
• The Muskies secured a 7-3 game one victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Muskingum scored seven runs on 10 hits.
• Freshman Alyssa Marlatt earned her third win of the season firing six innings of work.
• Junior Sarah Piteo went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while freshman Kodi Brenner finished with a hit and chipped in two RBIs.
• Junior Taylor Gallentine finished 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
• Senior Katie Osburn finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, while junior Carlee Lamacz also added an RBI.
• Senior Haley Hawk and sophomore Kalie Eshelman ended the contest with one hit apiece. 
• Taylor Baran led the Cardinal offense with one hit and three RBIs.

 How it Happened – Game Two

• Muskingum took a quick 1-0 lead on a Haley Hawk double to right-center in the first inning.
• After both teams were unable to plate runs through three innings of play, a Carlee Lamacz double down the left-field line gave the Muskies a 2-0 lead.
• Otterbein looked to threaten in the sixth with the tying run at the plate before a popup to first base shut down the Cardinal rally.
• The Muskies went on to score their third and final run off an Otterbein throwing error. 
• The Muskies left Westerville with a sweep and an OAC Tournament berth.

 Inside the Numbers

• Muskingum scored three runs off seven hits.
• Sophomore Madelyn Thomas improves to 11 wins on the season. Thomas pitched seven innings of work. 
• Hawk finished with two hits and an RBI.
• Lamacz ended the outing with one hit and an RBI.
• Gallentine finished with two hits.
• Osburn and Eshelman contributed one hit to pace the Muskie bats.
• Macey Allen, Taylor Baran, and Savannah McCoppin led Otterbein with one hit apiece.

 Up Next

Muskingum will be back in action on Thursday, April 28, when they travel to take on Denison in non-conference doubleheader action. Game one is slated for a 3:30 PM start.