ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, the Capital University softball team hung tough with No. 7 ranked WashU through four innings of play before a six-run fifth inning gave the Bears an 8-0 opening round win. Capital will now be back in action tomorrow for the must-win consolation game against Illinois College.
Capital is now 21-18 overall this season, and WashU improved to 29-5-1 overall on the year.
Early on, the Comets were kept at bay, but
Reagan Irons drew a walk in the top of the second to become the first base runner for Capital. In the third, Capital got their first hit of the game through
Kyleigh Kirby who singled to right center. Later in the top of the fifth inning, Capital threatened again but ultimately couldn't get a run across. Irons drew another walk and moved over to second on a single by
Audrey Thomas, but that proved to be it for the Capital offense throughout the game.
Along the way, WashU pushed across a run in both the first and second innings to lead 2-0, but a six-run bottom of the fifth pushed them over the hump to the 8-0 victory.
Kirby and Thomas yielded the only two hits of the game, while Irons walked twice as well.
Addi Parker (6-5) started in the circle and pitched 4.1 innings and conceded seven hits, two walks and five runs (four earned).
Alyssa Miller pitched the rest of the game and conceded three runs on four hits and a walk. She struck out one.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Head coach
Anna Kirk, senior
Kyleigh Kirby and junior
Audrey Thomas reflect on the team's opening game of the 2026 NCAA Regional Tournament.
UP NEXT
Capital will take on Illinois College in the consolation game on Friday, May 15th at 1:30 p.m. CST. Illinois College was defeated by Wis.-Oshkosh, 1-0 in 12 innings during their first game of the Regional Tournament.
