Posted April 29, 2006
By: Leonard Reich, Sports Information Director
Capital Posts a Split With #13 Marietta in Season Finale
Marietta 1, Capital 0 (12 inn.) [Box Score]
Capital 7, Marietta 3 [Box Score]
(MARIETTA, Ohio)--Capital University's softball team closed out the 2006 season with a split of nationally ranked No. 13 Marietta College Saturday in an Ohio Athletic Conference series in Marietta.

The Crusaders ran off six wins in their last seven games but the rally for a spot in the four-team OAC Tournament came up short as they finished 8-10 in league play and 21-18-1 overall.  Marietta (31-9 overall) will be the No. 2 in next week's tournament with a 12-6 mark.

Capital lost a heartbreaker in the opener, 1-0 in 12 innings, as the Crusaders lost a fifth OAC game in extra innings.

Lindsey Romick hit the game-winner with an RBI double in the bottom of the 12th for Marietta.  Junior pitcher Jen Heidenreich (Xenia/Xenia) struck out nine and allowed only five hits through 11 1/3 innings but came up as the hard luck loser to finish 10-13 on the season.

Kristen Quintana struck out eight allowed only a pair of hits in 12 innings to go to 18-4 on the season.

In the nightcap, Capital jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings, before Marietta tied the game with a three-run second inning.  The Crusaders then scored four unanswered runs and took advantage of four Pioneer errors in the final five innings for the 7-3 win.

Junior Jackie Burris (Beach Park, Ill./Warren Township) went 3-for-4, scored two runs and drove in another to lead Capital at the plate.

Sophomore Erin Willeke (Newark/Licking Valley) scattered six hits over seven innings to earn her fourth straight win and finish at 11-5.