Posted April 8, 2006
By: Sam McCarthy, Assistant Sports Information Director
Capital Swept by No. 6 Muskingum
Muskingum 8, Capital 2 [Box Score]
Muskingum 8, Capital 0 (5 inn.) [Box Score]
(NEW CONCORD, Ohio)-- Capital University's softball team traveled to Muskingum College Saturday afternoon and fell twice to the No. 6 ranked Muskies by scores of 8-2 and 8-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference action at Muskingum Field in New Concord, Ohio.

The Crusaders dip to 11-12 (2-4 OAC) on the year, while the Muskies improve to 23-3 (5-1 OAC) on the season.

Muskingum jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in game one and the Crusaders kept it close by scoring a run in the top of the fourth to make it 3-2 before an offensive onslaught by the Muskies in the bottom of the fifth inning made the game 8-2, which is how it would end.

Junior Jen Heidenreich (Xenia/Xenia) drove in both runs in the game for Capital as she doubled in the second to bring in senior center fielder Mandy Sladoje (Lancaster/Lancaster) and hit a SAC fly in the fourth to bring in junior shortstop Jackie Burris (Beach Park, Ill./Warren Township).

Heidenreich picked up the loss in game one after tossing four and a third innings and giving up eight runs, six of them earned, while striking out one. Heidenreich drops to 5-9 on the season.

Capital could get nothing going in game two as they managed five hits, but no runs as the Muskies won 8-0 in five innings.

Muskingum scored at least one run in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings with the big blow coming in a four-run bottom of the fourth.

Sophomore pitcher Erin Willeke (Newark/Licking Valley) threw four innings and gave up seven runs, but only three of them were earned as the Crusaders made five errors in the game.

Freshman Julia Blue (Marion/Marion Catholic) threw two thirds of an inning and gave up one run, but Willeke took the loss, falling to 6-3 on the year.

Capital goes back on the road tomorrow, traveling to Bethany (W.Va.) College for a non-conference double-header at 1 p.m.