COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University softball team salvaged a split with Heidelberg on Saturday afternoon in what turned out to be a marathon of an afternoon after game one went to 11 innings. The first game went the way of Heidelberg, 5-4, before the second game was won on a walk-off single by
Megan Parry, 4-3, in favor of the Comets.
Capital is now 13-11 overall and 3-5 in the OAC, while Heidelberg is 18-9 overall and 4-4 in the OAC.
GAME ONE: Heidelberg def. Capital, 5-4 (11 innings)
Heidelberg went up 2-0 in the top of the first as Cara Meyer hit a two-run home run to center.
Despite being in a hole, Capital tied the game in the bottom of the fourth at 2-2. First,
Kyleigh Kirby came around to score thanks to a pair of errors by the Berg left fielder. Then,
Reagan Irons hit an RBI groundout that scored
Isabel Sayre from third.
With the game tied heading to the seventh, Heidelberg hit another home run in the top half, this time a solo shot that put them up 3-2.
The Comets did not go down lightly as they benefitted from another error in the bottom of the seventh that allowed
Morgan Priest to score after a groundout by Kirby.
As the game progressed into extras, Heidelberg again went in front with a run in the top of the ninth, but Capital leveled the score again at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth on a solo home run by
Morgan Priest – her second round tripper of the season.
The final nail in the coffin for the game was a solo homer by Heidelberg in the top of the 11th inning that yielded the final run of the game at 5-4.
Capital collected nine hits in the game, led by
Morgan Priest who had three.
Shelby Allen and
Megan Parry each had two hits as well, while
Autumn Bridges and
Isabel Sayre each had one.
The Comets used three pitchers as
Alyssa Miller started and threw six full innings. She allowed four runs on seven hits and five walks, but struck out 13 – the most strikeouts by a Capital pitcher in a single game since Brooklyn Staten punched out 14 back on March 15, 2013. In relief,
Addi Parker threw 3.1 innings and allowed four hits and two walks.
Megan Mlinaric threw 1.2 innings and allowed one run on one hit. Parker ended with one strikeout, while Mlinaric had three of her own. As a staff, the trio of pitchers struck out 17 Student Princes in the marathon contest.
GAME TWO: Capital def. Heidelberg, 4-3
The Student Princes again went up in the top of the first inning, this time scoring a run on an RBI single. They wouldn't add to their lead until the sixth inning when Alexis Burton hit a solo home run to make it 2-0.
Down two runs, the Comets took advantage of an error in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. First,
Ryanne Wilson hit a pinch-hit RBI double to right center. Then,
Morgan Priest singled to left center to score another run, tying the game at 2-2.
In the top of the seventh, Heidelberg scored a run to go up 3-2, showing signs of the marathon continuing from game one. However, the Comets answered back in the bottom of the seventh. First,
Kyleigh Kirby scored after an errant throw by the Berg third baseman on
Autumn Bridges' sacrifice bunt. That run was enough to tie the game yet again at 3-3. The winning run was then scored just a couple of batters later. First
Shelby Allen reached on a single and then stole second. On second base, Allen scored on
Megan Parry's RBI single up the middle to give the Comets the walk-off winner, 4-3.
Capital collected 10 hits in the game, led by Kirby's three. Parry added two hits, while Bridges, Allen, Wilson, Priest and
Audrey Thomas each had one hit.
Addi Parker started on the mound and pitched four innings allowing one run on five hits and two walks.
Megan Mlinaric (4-4) pitched the final three innings and allowed two runs on three hits and a walk. Both Parker and Mlinaric struck out two.
UP NEXT
Capital will hit the road for a mid-week non-conference doubleheader on April 15th as they travel to Wittenberg for two games. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
