WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Mount Union's softball team falls to Otterbein (12-4, 2-0 OAC) in their conference opening doubleheader, 14-6 and 10-2.

The Purple Raiders (7-11, 0-2 OAC) started the day strong with a two-run homerun from Morgan Riley (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi) in her first at-bat in the top of the first inning and then again in the top of the fourth, this time from Maggie Dominick (Dennison/Tuscarawas Central Catholic); Riley and Dominick both going 2-for-2 in game one.

With Riley's home run, Mount Union led 2-0 until Otterbein drove in two runs in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game. 

Otterbein was then able to capitalize on bases loaded in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly scoring one run, followed by a three-run home run to clear the bases and get ahead of Mount Union 6-2.

Dominick's two-run homer in the fourth cut Otterbein's lead to 6-4, but the Cardinals would drive in eight runs in the bottom half of the inning on seven hits and an error. 

In the top of the fifth, an RBI single from Cheyenne Miller (Salem/West Branch) followed by Maddie Pidgeon (Salem/West Branch) reaching on fielder's choice tallied two more runs for the Raiders but it would not be enough as the game ended in fifth; Otterbein winning 14-6.

Now 5-5 on the season, Hannah Reusser (Minerva/Minerva) receives the loss after 3.1 innings pitched while giving up 12 runs on 12 hits with three walks.

In the second game, Miller blasted a solo home run to left field in her first at-bat for the 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The Raiders then went on to lead 2-0 in the top of third as Riley was able to steal home. 

Otterbein found success in the bottoms of the third and fourth inning, scoring four runs on seven hits and an error to get ahead 4-2.

Struggling to get on base, Mount Union went scoreless in the fifth and sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Otterbein went on a scoring surge as they brought in six runs on seven hits and an error to end the game at 10-2.

In her second start in the circle, Jenna Liles (Sterling/Norwayne) falls to 1-1 after pitching 3.1 innings while allowing four runs on 10 hits.

Mount Union returns home to 23rd Street Field on Friday, March 30 as they host Baldwin Wallace in a conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.