By: Ryan Gasser, sports information director
CLERMONT, Fla. – The Capital University softball team closed out its stay at the PFX Spring Games with a 4-2 loss to Eastern Nazarene University on Friday afternoon. A three-run fifth inning propelled the Lions to victory in its opening contest while Cap falls to 2-5 on the season.
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Freshman Brianna Shearer earned the start for the Crusaders and worked around four hits over the first three innings, but kept the Lions off of the board to take a scoreless game into the fourth inning.
Capital stranded runners at first and second in the top of the fourth while the Lions were able to plate on in the bottom half. Darcy Castro doubled to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch, which proved costly after Kori Bow drove her home with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Capital retook the lead the following inning with a two-out rally that stemmed from an error in the field. Hannah Martin began the rally with a single followed by Alyx Slusher reaching base via an error by second baseman Alex Schwenger, putting runners at the corners. Capital took advantage of that when Erica Ogden singled to center field scoring both runners. Eastern Nazarene worked out of the inning to strand CU runners at second and third.
The Lions responded with a three-run fifth that ultimately decided the game. Eastern Nazarene rolled out four hits, two for extra bases, which led to the three-run inning. Taylor Brandt singled home one run while Castro drove home two on a two-out, two-RBI single.
Capital had the tying run at the plate in the sixth but left the runner stranded and then Elisabeth Schaffer (W, 1-0) took down the Crusaders, in order, in the seventh to end the game.
Schaffer struck out eight Crusaders in a complete-game victory, while Shearer (L, 1-2) surrendered four runs on 11 hits in six innings of work.
Ogden scored both of Capital's runs with her lone hit of the game, while Lauren Kachure and Hannah Martin both went 2-for-3.
Capital's second game of the doubleheader was earmarked a junior varsity contest, so it will not count toward its overall season record. A score update will be provided later in the evening.
The Crusaders (2-5) will return to the Midwest and ready for its next games at Franklin University (Ind.) on Friday, March 13. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 2:30 p.m.
