WILMINGTON, Ohio – Capital University held the Wilmington College softball team to a single run in a pair of Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) games at the WC Softball Complex on Thursday, winning game one 2-0 and the nightcap 4-2.
Game one was a pitcher's duel as Brianna Shearer and Lindsey Carter went toe-to-toe. After scoreless innings for both teams to begin the game, but the Crusaders led off the third with a double from Kim Rega. The Quakers retired the two batters that followed, but Alysa Durbin, the reigning OAC Offensive Player of the Week, singled up the middle for the game's first run.
A scoreless third pair of half innings followed, and in the bottom of the fourth, it was Wilmington's turn to lead off an inning with a double as Hayley Suchland golfed an 0-2 pitch into left center field. The hosts couldn't deliver an RBI-hit, however, as two foul outs and a strikeout ended the inning with Suchland at third base after she stole it.
Leading 1-0, Capital looked to extend its lead in the sixth as Tiffany Zuelzke led off the inning with a bunt single. Wilmington answered with a 4-6-3 double play, but a two-out double followed by a single doubled the visitors' lead. That 2-0 advantage would hold as the Quakers were retired in order in each of the last two innings.
Shearer earned the shutout scattering three hits with seven strikeouts to earn the win while Carter took the loss despite allowing a complete game with three strikeouts. Offensively, Durbin and Haley Grau went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Crusaders while three Quakers – Kemp, Suchland and Andrea Edmisten – all had hits.
The nightcap followed a similar storyline, unfortunately for the hosts. Capital scored a single run in the top of the first, and despite having multiple hits in the second and the bases loaded with no outs in the fourth, Wilmington couldn't plate a run. The Crusaders added to their lead with a three-run sixth inning.
The Quakers waited until the seventh inning to score their first runs of the day as Edmisten grounded out to shortstop scoring Kennedy Clifton and Suchland doubled home Tayler Claubaugh.
Shearer picked up her second win of the day, pitching the final five innings with four strikeouts and two earned runs. Alexis Stringfellow took the loss allowing 10 hits in the full seven innings.
Suchland finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI while the top four Crusaders in the lineup all had two hits.
Wilmington (16-22, 15-19 OAC) will conclude the 2021 regular season with a pair of games at Capital tomorrow (Friday).
