COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University softball team rebounded from a opening game loss to defeat the Denison Big Red in game two of a Saturday doubleheader. The Comets fell 8-0 in the first game, before battling back to take game two 6-5. 

The results moved Cap's record to 5-9 overall on the season. 

GAME ONE: Denison wins 8-0
The Comet bats struggled to get going in the first of two games, as the team collected just three hits in the game, all of which were singles. Two of those baseknocks went to Megan Mlinaric, while Krislyn Bayles was responsible for the other. 

Kyleigh Kirby made her starting debut on the pitching rubber, throwing a strong 3.2 innings. She allowed four hits, a walk and two hit batsmen to surrender six runs – only three of which were earned. She did record her first three collegiate strikeouts in her time on the mound.

Brianna Shearer took the final 3.1 innings in relief, scattering five hits and a walk for two runs (one earned). She struck out six in her time on the rubber. 

GAME TWO: Capital wins 6-5
After Denison got going early with three runs in the top of the first inning, Capital settled down and slowly worked back into the game.
 
First, in the bottom of the second, Cap scored their first run of the game off a Denison throwing error. Reagan Irons plated the run as Tiffany Zuelzke was safe on the play. 

The 3-1 score carried into the bottom of the third where Kyleigh Kirby delivered her fifth home run of the season to tie the game at 3-3. Lexie Leggett was on base when Kirby sent the ball over the left center fence. 

With the game tied, Cap eventually took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with three more runs – enough to secure the win. First, Leggett tagged a home run of her own to the near identical location over the left center fence. Then, the Comets loaded the bases with Autumn Bridges, Kiby, and Krislyn Bayles all reaching safely. With the bases loaded, Tiffany Zuelzke drew a walk to score Bridges and then Kirby scored on a wild pitch to make the score 6-3 in the Comets' favor. 

With the lead, Capital surrendered two runs in the top of the seventh, but Brianna Shearer came on to record the final out and earn her first save of the season. 

Krislyn Bayles started on the rubber for Cap and threw a solid 6.2 innings to secure the first win of her season. She scattered six hits and five unearned runs in the game. 

NOTABLES
Kyleigh Kirby and Lexie Leggett kept pace with one another for the team lead in home runs as they both hit their fifth homers of the season in game two. 

Shearer's save in game two marked just the second of her career. Also, Shearer recorded her 200th career strikeout on the mound and now sits at 218 career punchouts with her six in game one. 

UP NEXT
Capital will celebrate the Easter holiday on Sunday before taking on Otterbein on Monday, April 10th. The games will take place at Otterbein at 3 and 5 p.m. The Oberlin games originally scheduled for Monday the 10th at home are now going to be played in Oberlin on Tuesday, April 11th at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.