John Carroll softball opened their Ohio Athletic Conference schedule on Tuesday afternoon, losing both to Capital University in their return to University Heights.

JCU falls to 5-7 on the year, while Capital improves to 12-6. Before the game, assistant athletic director and former JCU softball coach Gretchen Weitbrecht threw out the first pitch to rededicate Bracken Field.

Game 1 - Capital 7, John Carroll 2

John Carroll jumped out to an early 2-1 lead, but the Capital Crusaders scored six unanswered runs to take a 7-2 win in game one.

Carly Simecek blasted a two-run home run in the first inning. Lindsay McKnight went 2-for-3 at the dish, the only Blue Streak to do so. AnnMarie Kirchner (L, 1-1) went five innings and allowed four earned runs.

Capital scored first, but JCU roared back with a Hannah Mizener double high off the new Bracken Field fence. Two batters later, Simecek knocked a ball out of the left field power alley and onto the playing surface of Schweickert Field.

Capital scored 2 in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the fifth. Jennifer Patterson saw time on the mound, pitching two innings of three-hit ball.

Game 2 - Capital 2, John Carroll 0

John Carroll managed just three hits in a 2-0 loss in game two. Senior Victoria Eder had two, including a single laced to right center in the bottom of the seventh. Angie Zappitelli reached base twice on a single and a walk.

Brianna Lach pitched three shutout innings. Kelly Geringer (L, 1-2) appeared in relief, and held off the Crusaders to the tune of no earned runs in four innings of work. Kayla Wild (W, 3-1) pitched a complete game shutout.

Capital scored both in the fifth on two errors. A double by Chevonne Hayslett broke the game open after a failed attempt at the plate scored a second run.

John Carroll mounted an attempt at a rally late following Eder's single. However, Wild closed the door for her third complete game.

JCU is back on Bracken Field for a doubleheader against Hiram at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow.