COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University softball team split with Heidelberg University in Wednesday afternoon's doubleheader at Clowson Field, driving their record to 16-8 overall and 4-2 in OAC play. Behind 10 hits timed up with three Heidelberg errors, Capital dispensed of the defending OAC Tournament champions in five innings after dropping game one in a one-run contest.

GAME 1 – Heidelberg 2, Capital 1

Through three innings, neither Capital nor Heidelberg had posted a hit in the game. The Student Princes broke that trend in the fourth inning with three consecutive one-out singles, the third scoring the game's first run. Capital starting pitcher Amber Martinelli (Alison Park, Pa./Hampton) got out of the jam by striking out Kaitlyn Moore and fielding her position with a ground out.

Capital tied the game in the sixth inning when junior Pam Vickers (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Nordonia) scored on senior Marisa Koss' squeeze bunt put down in front of the Heidelberg catcher. Heidelberg was able to escape the inning without further damage.

Two walks in the seventh hurt Capital following a wild pitch that set the table for two runners to make their way into scoring position. Renee Lovett drove a two-out, run-scoring single to score the eventual game-winning run. Capital was unable to answer in the home half of the seventh, leading to a 2-1 Heidelberg win.

Capital mustered just four hits against Heidelberg's Erin Chapman (W, 7-4). Martinelli (L, 8-5) struck out three and walked three while allowing six hits in the loss.

GAME 2 – Heidelberg 2, Capital 11 (F/5)

Two big innings propelled Capital to a turnaround win over Heidelberg, 11-2. The game went final in five innings, in which time Capital pounded out 10 hits. Three Crusaders recorded two hits in the game.

Senior Katherine Boyer (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) led the bottom of the second inning by drawing a walk from Student Prince pitcher Kaitlyn Moore (L, 7-4). With runners on first and second, Vickers put down a bunt to the third base side which she beat out and allowed Boyer to score on the play. Three batters later and with the bases loaded, Koss drew a walk to increase the score to 2-0. Reigning OAC Hitter of the Week, Kristen Mellott (Clear Spring, Md./Clear Spring), benefitted from an error by the Heidelberg shortstop after an errant throw prolonged the inning and granted two more runs to cross the plate. Senior Sarah Jasinski (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont) roped a two-out, two-RBI single to put the Crusaders up 6-0.

Capital put together another big inning in the third, crossing the plate five more times. Haleigh Luce (Greenville, Ohio/Greenville) belted her third home run of the year, a solo shot, to put Cap up 7-1. With a runner on second and two outs, freshman Morgan Fadel increased that lead by one more run with an RBI single to center. Koss followed with a run-scoring double, the first of two in a row. Freshman Emily Cantley followed with a pinch-hit double, scoring Koss. Another error in the field extended the inning for Capital, which freshman Cory Mangen took full advantage of with a slow-rolling infield single to short. The base hit was Mangen's first of her collegiate career. After the inning finally ended, Capital held an 11-1 lead.

Heidelberg was able to score one more time in the top of the fifth, but freshman hurler Kayla Wild (Brooklyn, Mich./Tecumseh) shut the door on the Student Princes. Wild improved her season record to 7-1 overall after allowing just two runs on six hits.

Fadel, Luce and Vickers all finished with two hits in game two. Fadel claimed three hits between both games to lead the team. Koss pulled in three ribbies over the course of the doubleheader, also a team high.

Capital has already announced that it will cancel its doubleheader versus Bluffton University on Thursday afternoon due to weather coming through the area. Its next games will be on Saturday, April 8 at home versus rival Otterbein University. First pitch of game one will be 1 p.m. from Clowson Field.