By: Ryan Gasser, sports information director

MARIETTA, Ohio – The Capital University and Marietta College softball teams met up at Marietta Field on Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders did better getting runners home, but the host Pioneers were able to keep CU at bay. Marietta swept Capital by scored of 5-3 and 3-2.

GAME 1 - Capital 3, Marietta 5

Marietta featured two big innings to account of its run production, though Capital did not back down despite an early deficit.

In the bottom of the second, Hannah Richardson launched a two-run home run to get the Pioneers' scoring started. They later added another run when Macy Kirk drove home Erin Miller from second base with a two-out single to left.

Up 3-0, Capital fought back and put up two runs in the top of the third. Mycala Duhart earned the start and led the inning off with a walk. After a fielding error and a sharp liner to right by Erica Ogden loaded the bases, junior Hannah Martin poked a single through the left side to score a run. Cory Mangen then followed with a sacrifice fly to get a second run across and make for a 3-2 game.

Capital added one more run as a byproduct of another walk combined with a Marietta error, but that only cut the deficit to 5-3. Prior to that, Marietta's Kaitlyn Carpenter took home and scored on a delayed steal, and later Jordan Pallay drove home Britnee Kail, who reached on an error earlier in the inning.

Brianna Reardon (L, 5-10) took the losses behind a line of 6.0 innings pitched, seven hits and five runs (four earned) allowed, plus two strikes to one walk. Maddi Liston (W, 6-4) earned the win behind a four-inning performance in which she allowed two runs (one earned), and her teammate Hannah Richardson (S, 1) got the save after pitching three effective innings.

GAME 2 - Capital 2, Marietta 3

In game two, it was Cap's turn to light up the scoreboard first. Duhart got the first inning going with her second hit of the day and later came around to score on Ogden's single up the middle three batters later.

Marietta tied it up in the bottom of the third with a nifty bunt play. After Kail led the inning off with a double, she came around to score when Ashley Tschudy dropped a bunt that she beat out for a single. A game of catch then began and with additional throws being tossed, both runners were able to move 60 feet, Tschudy to second and Kail came in to score.

The game remained tied, 1-1, until the sixth inning. Both teams would score in their half of the inning, but Marietta just one more than Capital.

Capital's Hannah Martin drove home pinch runner Veronica Zack, who came in to run for Chevy Hayslett following a leadoff single, with a two-out double to right center field. However, with two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, pinch hitter Lauren Rockocy drove a single to right center to score two runners and overtake the lead, 3-2.

Capital put the tying run on base when Hailey Grau hit a single through the left side in a pinch hit opportunity, but Jaclyn Mulvain (W, 4-4) put down the Capital threat by striking out Alyx Slusher and forcing Duhart to lineout to third.

Mulvain took the win after entering the game with the lead in the seventh. Hayslett (L, 1-7), despite keeping the Pioneers to just three runs on eight hits, took the loss. Hayslett also went 3-for-3 at the plate.

Capital will have a day off but hit the road for Bethany College (W.Va.) for a doubleheader with the Bison at Bison Field. Game times are set for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.