COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University softball team was forced to fight back in both games, but ultimately secured a two-game sweep over visiting Kenyon College on Wednesday evening. The Comets took the games via 9-8 and 5-4 scores, with game two being won on a two-RBI walkoff triple by Isabel Sayre. 

With the pair of wins, Capital moves ahead to 7-5 overall this season, while Kenyon drops to an even 7-7. 

GAME ONE: Capital def. Kenyon, 9-8
The Owls struck early on to take a 5-0 lead at the middle of the second inning. However, Capital struck back with a trio of runs in the bottom of the second to keep it a game at 5-3. The Comet runs came via two runs scored on errors and an RBI single by Reagan Irons. 

The Comets continued their comeback, eventually tying the game in the third thanks to an RBI groundout by Megan Parry and a wild pitch that scored Isabel Sayre from third. 

Kenyon responded well, going ahead 7-5 in the fourth. Though, again, Capital responded, this time via a two-RBI single by Kyleigh Kirby. 

Kirby was involved again as Capital went ahead 8-7 in the sixth inning as she reached via an error to scored Irons. The extended inning allowed for an RBI single by Isabel Sayre to score Autumn Bridges for the eventual game-winning run. Kenyon scored a consolation to make it 9-8 in the seventh, but the Comets held on for the win. 

Kirby and Sayre each had two hits to lead the way, while Irons, Bridges, Parry, Lyndi Hemmelgarn, and Shelby Allen each had a hit. Notably, Kirby's first hit of the day was her 150th career base knock. 

Alyssa Miller pitched the distance, picking up her third win of the season with only five earned runs on eight hits and six walks. She struck out three. 

GAME TWO: Capital def. Kenyon, 5-4
Trying to beat the darkness, the game cruised into the third inning scoreless before Kyleigh Kirby hit an RBI single and eventually scored herself on an RBI single by Emma Sweetman, giving the Comets a 2-0 lead after the third. 

Kenyon plated three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to go up 4-2. With the Owls needing to just get through the bottom of the seventh inning, Capital had other plans. 

Audrey Thomas led off the inning with a double to center before she scored on an RBI groundout by Reagan Irons to bring the score to 4-3. The next two hitters, Autumn Bridges and Kirby, reached via a single and a walk, bringing up Isabel Sayre. With two outs and down to her last strike, Sayre sent a deep ball to the fence in right field, scoring both Bridges and Kirby to give the Comets the 5-4 comeback win. 

Bridges, Sayre and Thomas each had two hits, joined by Irons, Kirby and Sweetman with one hit each. 

Addi Parker pitched 6.1 innings of solid work, yielding just two earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks. Megan Mlinaric picked up the win in relief as she struck out two in her short night of work. 

UP NEXT
Capital will begin OAC play this coming Saturday, March 21st with two games at Mount Union. First pitch in Alliance is slated for 1 p.m.