BETHANY, W.Va. – The Capital University softball team traveled to previously 14-0 Bethany College on Tuesday evening, where the Comets would come out with a 9-0 shutout, five-inning win in game two, dropping the previously undefeated Bison to 15-1 overall. The hosts claimed the opening game of the day via a 5-2 scoreline. Capital is now 7-7 overall on the season.
GAME ONE
The Comets did what they typically do and that's score a first inning run, thanks to an RBI single from
Emma Sweetman that scored
Autumn Bridges. The play put Cap in front 1-0 early.
The hosts would respond with a tying run in the bottom half of the first inning, but Capital would move back in front in the top of the third. This time, it was a sacrifice squeeze bunt from
Michelle Brumfield that ultimately went for a hit and scored Sweetman in the same motion.
Despite going ahead 2-1, Capital saw their lead flip to a deficit in the bottom of the third as Bethany scored twice to go up 3-2. With insurance runs scored in both the fourth and sixth innings, Bethany had what they needed to escape with the 5-2 win.
Alyssa Miller (3-3) started in the circle and lasted 3.1 innings after conceding five hits, three walks and three runs. She did strikeout four in the effort.
Addi Parker picked up 2.2 innings of relief ending with three hits, two walks and two runs with one strikeout.
GAME TWO
The Comets jumped all over the Bethany starting pitcher with four runs in the top of the first inning, giving their own starter in
Megan Mlinaric plenty of breathing room to work with early. The first inning runs came courtesy of an RBI single by
Autumn Bridges, an RBI groundout from Mlinaric, an RBI groundout from
Lyndi Hemmelgarn and an RBI single by
Michelle Brumfield.
In front comfortably, Mlinaric did an excellent job in the pitcher's circle moving through the Bison lineup with ease.
Capital tacked on another run in the top of the third inning on another RBI single by Brumfield that scored pinch runner
Tabi Bailey.
In the fourth inning, Capital again got some more offense, this time benefitting from a two-RBI double by
Lyndi Hemmelgarn that scored Mlinaric and
Emma Sweetman.
Looking to get ahead and force the run-rule into effect, Capital scored twice more in the top of the fifth inning, this time plating runs on an RBI bunt single by Sweetman and an RBI single up the middle by
Megan Parry.
Mlianric (3-0) was credited with the win, throwing five full innings of shutout softball in which she only conceded three hits and struckout seven opposing hitters.
Both
Kyleigh Kirby and
Emma Sweetman would finish 3-for-4 in the game, with Kirby recording her 100th career hit on a double in the fifth inning.
Michelle Brumfield,
Megan Parry, and
Lyndi Hemmelgarn all recorded two hits each, with Hemmelgarn leading the team with three RBIs.
Autumn Bridges and Mlinaric each had one hit of Capital's 14 in the game.
UP NEXT
Capital will continue their tough week of opposition with a road trip to No. 15 ranked Case Western Reserve on Thursday, March 27th. First pitch in Cleveland is slated for 3:00 p.m.
