CLERMONT, Fla. – Capital University's softball team had its strongest performances on its final day in Florida. Against Neumann, the Crusaders found its rhythm on the plate, using a balanced offensive attack to stay on top of their opponent.

Game 1 – Capital 3, Neumann 2

Katie Hurst (Macedonia, Ohio) began the second inning, getting on base with a hit before advancing to second after a base hit to left field from Haleigh Luce (Greenville, Ohio). Brooklyn Staten (Grove City, Ohio) stepped to the plate and hit the ball over the opposing shortstop to bring Hurst in for the game's first run.

In the third inning, Bailey Walter (Ashland, Ohio) continued her solid week by adding another hit to her total which resulted in a run scored by Therese Becker (South Euclid, Ohio).

Neumann struck for the first time when  Becky Guinto double to left field. The Knights' next at-bat scored pinch runner Roby Hayden as they took advantage of an error by the Crusader defense.

The Crusaders took momentum for good as Marisa Koss (Ostrander, Ohio) found the right-field gap for a triple that scored teammate Pam Vickers (Sagamore Hills, Ohio).

Sophomore pitcher Bree Kilgus (Grove City, Ohio) stood tall in the final  inning as she protected Capital's one-run lead, striking out Neumann's final batter with a runner on base.

Koss and Luce led the Crusaders with two hits apiece. Koss, Staten, and Walter each finished with an RBI. As a team, Capital recorded nine hits, three RBIs and struck out on only two occasions.

Game 2 – Capital 7, Johnson & Wales 6

The Crusaders put together their best inning of the week, scoring five runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning. Sarah Jasinski (Englewood, Ohio) started the run with a single that scored Hurst for third base. Vickers then collected an RBI with a single to right field.

With Vickers and Jasinski on base, Koss connected with a pitch that sent the ball over the right-field fence for Capital's first home run of the season. The homer gave the Crusaders a commanding 5-0 lead.

Johnson & Wales stormed back in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on four hits, highlighted by a base hit from Tiffani Semanchik that scored a pair of runs to bring the score to 5-3.

Capital added runs in the fourth and fifth innings before the Wildcats had a late surge, scoring three runs in the final stanza before Luce put an end to the comeback, running down a foul ball for the game-ending out.

Capital gets a break throughout the week before taking a trip to Maryland where it will play in the Sea Gull Classic Tournament, beginning with a doubleheader against Salisbury University on Saturday, March 12.