BEXLEY, Ohio – Capital University defeated the Wilmington College softball team in a pair of one-run contests on Wednesday, winning game one 1-0 and the nightcap 4-3 to sweep the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) series.
In game one, starter Izzy Rothrock had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning, pitching around a hit batter, walk and error in the earlier innings. A lead-off walk would come around to score in the home half of the fifth, however, as Kyleigh Kirby tripled right center.
That run would prove to be the difference as the WC offense couldn't solve Brianna Shearer, who improved to 6-5 on the season scattering three hits with seven strikeouts. Rothrock also had seven strikeouts and allowed just two hits, but was still credited with the loss. Aiyana Hancock entered late in the sixth and retired the only batter she faced.
Lindsey Carter, Logann Julian and Mollie Moore had the Quakers' hits with Carter's being a double while Kirby and Liz Stonerock accounted for both of Capital's hits.
In the nightcap, Capital once again took a 1-0 lead. This time, however, it was in the first inning, giving Wilmington time to answer. The Quakers did just that, capitalized on Comet error in the second. WC looked to break the game open, but Judaea Wilson lined out to left field with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The game would remain tied until the fourth when the Quakers made the Comets pay for another error. McKenna Archey reached base via the error, and McKayla Sites stole second after entering in as a pinch runner. Bailey Hypes then delivered a single up the middle to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. One inning later, however, the hosts regained the lead as Lexie Leggett hit a two-run home run.
Leading 3-2, Capital added an insurance run on an RBI-groundout, and the Comets would need it as the Quakers mounted a rally in the seventh. Mollie Moore opened the frame with a triple to center, and after two outs, Samantha Schwab doubled her home. An error and walk followed to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the game.
Krislyn Bayles improved to 3-3 on the season allowing one earned run on seven hits in six innings. Jessica Workman recorded the final out for the Comets and notched a one-out save in the process. Alexis Stringfellow, who relieved Hancock in the third, fell to 4-6 allowing two earned runs on three hits in 2.1 innings. Hillary Huffer pitched the final inning for WC and allowed just a single hit.
Offensively Schwab and Avree Entler each had two hits while Archey, Hypes, Moore and Berry all had a single hit for the Quakers. Leggett, Reagon Irons and Tiffany Zuelzke finished with multi-hit games for the Comets and accounted for six of the team's nine hits.
Wilmington (11-17, 1-11 OAC) has a quick turnaround as it hosts Miami University-Hamilton tomorrow (Thursday) for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.
