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Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

The Capital University softball team used a combination of strong pitching and a powerful offense Tuesday to defeat Baldwin Wallace in consecutive games in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader in Berea, Ohio.

The Crusaders (20-8 overall, 8-2 OAC) bested the Yellow Jackets 5-1 in the first game before taking the second in a dominating 12-1 triumph cut to five innings due to run rule.

With the victories, Capital moved into a tie for first place in the conference standings with Marietta with eight league games to go in the regular season.

After Baldwin Wallace (16-12, 2-6) tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first, Capital broke open the contest in the second inning. Sophomore left fielder LeAnna Cotton (Okeechobee, Fla.) socked a three-run home run to left center field, her third of the year, to make it a 4-1 game. The Crusaders increased their advantage to six runs by the end of the frame and didn't look back.

Sophomore right-hander Alyssa Patznick (Newark, Ohio) pitched all five innings and improved to 10-4 on the campaign. She struck out eight and allowed just three hits in her eighth complete game of the season.

Senior shortstop Devan Boggs (West Jefferson, Ohio) and freshman designated player Sarah Nist (North Canton, Ohio) contributed three hits apiece to lead the offense. Boggs knocked her team-leading ninth homer of the season in the top of the third and finished with three runs scored and three batted in. Sophomore catcher Maura Rose (Williamsport, Pa.) also homered, while freshman second baseman Brooklyn Staten (Grove City, Ohio) tallied a pair of hits. Senior right fielder Katie Neely (Sugar Grove, Ohio) scored a pair of runs and reached in all three of her plate appearances.

In the opener, the Crusaders started hot with runs in the first two innings, including four in the second frame. After a single by freshman third baseman Katlyn Simpson (Loudonville, Ohio) scored two, Boggs hit a two-run homer to center, then her eighth of the season, to give Capital a 5-0 advantage.

The Crusaders had scored in the first when sophomore centerfielder Kelsey Swain (Pickerington, Ohio) stole second, then drew a throw that allowed Boggs to score from third.

The Yellow Jackets plated one in the bottom of the fourth, but that was all sophomore pitcher Brooke Billings allowed in her complete-game win. The Clyde, Ohio, native moved to 10-4 on the year after allowing just five hits in the outing.

Senior first baseman Lexi Majoy (Huron, Ohio) contributed with two hits, while Staten and Cotton each tallied a run.

Capital resumes play tomorrow against fourth-place Mount Union. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Clowson Field.