Posted April 22, 2006
By: Leonard Reich, Sports Information Director
Capital Stops Streak With Mount Union Split
Mount Union 11, Capital 2 (5 inn.) [Box Score]
Capital 5, Mount Union 2 [Box Score]
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)--Erin Willike (Newark/Licking Valley) pitched a complete game victory as the Capital University softball team stopped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win against Mount Union College in game two of an Ohio Athletic Conference series Saturday at Clowson Field in Columbus.

After Mount Union scored a run in the first, Capital responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame with the big hit coming on a two RBI single from Mandy Sladoje (Lancaster/Lancaster).  The Crusaders would increase the lead to 5-1 with a pair of runs in the second.  The Raiders would try to rally with bases loaded in the third before hitting into an inning-ending double play, then would strand a pair of runners after a scoring a run in the fifth to close the gap to 5-2.

Willike did not allow an earned run as she allowed seven hits and struck out three to improve her record to 8-5 on the season.  Mount Union starter Ashley Hochstetler (4-3) took the loss allowing three runs, one earned, in a third of an inning.

In the opener, Mount Union won 11-2 scoring eight runs off three home runs.  Purple Raider left fielder Erin Duignan hit a pair of those, a three-run shot in the first and a two-run blast in the second to allow Mount Union to jump out to a 5-0 lead.  Mount Union would go up 9-0 in the fourth when Amanda Yackback hit a three-run home run.

All of this was more than enough offense for Lindsey Royer who struck out six for the complete game victory to go to 13-4 on the season.  Capital's Jen Heidenreich (Xenia/Xenia) drove in two runs on a pair of hits at the plate, but allowed five runs in the first two innings on the rubber taking the loss to fall to 8-12 on the season.

The split leaves Capital at 16-17-1 overall and 5-9 in the OAC, while Mount Union is 26-8 and finishes OAC play with a 12-6 record.

Capital closes out the home portion of the 2006 schedule against Ohio Wesleyan University at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Clowson Field.