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VIDEO – Capital's Walk-Off Win

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Capital University softball team competed in a pair of one-run games Tuesday, splitting the contests against NAIA opponents at the National Training Center Softball Complex.

The Crusaders (3-1) were downed 5-4 in their opener before tallying a run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Michigan-Dearborn 4-3.

Against the Wolverines (1-1), Capital lost its two-run lead in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for some late-game heroics in the bottom of the frame.

Junior Emma Caputo (Columbus, Ohio), pinch hitting for sophomore second baseman Brooklyn Staten (Grove City, Ohio) doubled down the right field line to lead off the inning. Staten, who re-entered and ran for Caputo, advanced to third on junior left fielder LeAnna Cotton's sharp single through the left side. Two pitches into the next at-bat, the ball skipped by Dearborn's catcher, and Staten scored easily to end the contest.

Junior pitcher Alyssa Patznick posted her second complete-game victory of the trip to improve to 2-1. The Newark, Ohio, native allowed three runs (one earned), scattered seven hits and struck out six.

Cotton (Okeechobee, Fla.) finished a perfect-3-for-3 to lead the offense. Sophomore shortstop Therese Becker (South Euclid, Ohio) was 2-for-3 with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore catcher Sarah Nist (North Canton, Ohio) posted a hit, a run scored an a run batted in.

Sophomore right fielder Ashley Knowles (Canton, Ohio) accounted for the Crusaders' first run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

In the opener, Capital fell behind 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning but responded with three of its own in the top of the fourth to tie the contest. After Nist doubled with one out, junior catcher Maura Rose (Williamsport, Pa.) reached on an error and Becker scorched a double down the left field line to plate sophomore Katie Hurst (Macedonia, Ohio), who pinch ran for Nist.

Freshman designated player Marisa Koss (Ostrander, Ohio) grounded to short to knock in the second run, reaching on a fielding error on the play. Freshman pinch hitter Kat Boyer (Huber Heights, Ohio) then plated Becker with a groundout back to the pitcher.

The Panthers (5-0) took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, posting three hits and a squeeze bunt in the frame.

Sophomore third baseman Katlyn Simpson (Loudonville, Ohio) made it interesting in the top of the seventh with a one-out triple, then was brought home one a two-out, pinch-hit single through the left side by junior Emma Caputo (Columbus, Ohio). After an error put two on, Davenport escaped the jam, inducing a pop-up to end the contest.

The Crusaders finished with seven hits in the game, all by different players. Patznick took the loss in relief of starter Brooke Billings (Clyde, Ohio).

Capital has a day off tomorrow before resuming action Thursday against Johnson St. and Lyndon St., both of Vermont, at 9 and 11 a.m., respectively.