NEW CONCORD, Ohio – The Capital University softball team traveled to the always challenging Muskingum University Fighting Muskies on Wednesday afternoon where they were swept by scores of 5-3 and 9-3. The Muskies had been seeing themselves win and around the top-25 rankings for nearly the entire season thus far.
With the results, Capital is now 16-15 overall and 5-7 in the OAC, while Muskingum improves to 25-7 overall and 10-2 in the conference.
GAME ONE: Muskingum def. Capital, 5-3
The Comets jumped all over Muskingum in the top of the first inning doing all of their run scoring before they even hit the field. That said, though, the offense cooled off quickly as the Muskies held Capital to just three more hits the rest of the way as they came back to win 5-3.
In the top of the first,
Kyleigh Kirby led off with a walk and then was joined on the basepaths by
Autumn Bridges who singled up the middle. Kirby then scored as
Isabel Sayre also singled up the middle. Two batters later,
Megan Parry successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Bridges. Sayre herself then came around to score as she crossed home on a designed corner baserunning play.
From there, Kirby would collect two hits and
Reagan Irons would find herself a hit, but ultimately, the Comets could not punch across another run before falling 5-3.
Megan Mlinaric (5-6) pitched to all but two batters and was hit with the loss. Most notably, she struck out two Muskies in her time on the rubber, crossing the 200-career strikeout mark.
GAME TWO: Muskingum def. Capital, 9-3
The second game went much in the favor of the Muskies as they jumped out in front early and then used a four-run third inning to break the game open before an eventual 9-3 win.
The Comets tallied six hits in total with two of those being sent over the outfield fence. First,
Shelby Allen hit a solo homer in the top of the second inning for her third four-bagger of the season. Then,
Lyndi Hemmelgarn hit a monstrous two-run home run over the scoreboard in left field in the top of the sixth inning. That homer marked the first of the season for Hemmelgarn and third of her career.
In all,
Reagan Irons led the team with two hits, while
Autumn Bridges and
Ryanne Wilson tacked on one hit each to go with the homers by Allen and Hemmelgarn.
Alyssa Miller (8-5) was tacked with the loss in the pitcher's circle as she tossed 4.2 innings and gave up six earned on nine hits and two walks.
Addi Parker pitched the final 1.1 innings and struck out two.
UP NEXT
Capital will return to Clowson Field on Saturday, April 25th to host a crucial OAC doubleheader against Marietta. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
