CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Capital University softball team ventured north to Cleveland where they did battle with the No. 15 nationally ranked Case Western Reserve University Spartans on Thursday afternoon. The Comets would put up a good fight, but ultimately would fall 8-0 and 8-2 in the two games.
Capital is now 7-9 overall, while CWRU moves to 12-7 overall.
GAME ONE
Capital hung in the game with the Spartans for much of the way, trailing only 2-0 heading to the fifth inning. Unfortunately, CWRU showed their quality in the fifth and sixth innings, breaking the score open to 8-0 to end the game after six innings.
The Comets faced a two-time All-American pitcher in CWRU's Lexi Miskey, who ended with 11 strikeouts, but the team was able to collect three hits and a walk in the game. Those hits went to
Kyleigh Kirby,
Megan Parry and
McKenzie Kennedy, while
Laureli McMahon drew the lone walk.
Alyssa Miller (3-4) started in the circle, throwing a full four innings where she conceded five hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk. She struckout one.
Addi Parker relieved Miller and threw the final 1.2 innings.
GAME TWO
Capital again hung right in there with the Spartans in game two, as just three of the eight runs scored in the game were earned. This time too, the Comets offense was able to record nine hits and two walks, scoring two runs in the game.
The runs for Capital were scored on an RBI single from
McKenzie Kennedy that scored
Tabi Bailey and an RBI double from
Alyssa Miller that scored
Isabel Sayre.
The play of the game for the Comets may have come on the defensive end as catcher
Laureli McMahon collected a highlight-reel diving catch on a bunt attempt that certainly turned heads.
Two Comets collected two hits each with those being
Kyleigh Kirby and
Megan Parry, while
Autumn Bridges,
Megan Mlinaric, Miller, Kennedy, and
Michelle Brumfield each had one hit.
Emma Sweetman and Kennedy drew the walks for Cap.
Megan Mlinaric (3-1) was saddled with the loss as she threw 5.1 innings and surrendered seven runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk. She struck out seven Spartans along the way. Miller ended the game finishing the final two-thirds of an inning. She had one strikeout.
UP NEXT
Capital will conclude their week on the road with two games at Otterbein University on Saturday, March 29th. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m., with the second game of the doubleheader primed to serve as the annual Battle for the Oar.
