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Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

The Capital University baseball team took advantage of strong pitching in one game and a potent offense in another Saturday to sweep a doubleheader at Ohio Christian in non-conference play at Paints Field in Chillicothe, Ohio.

The Crusaders (9-5 overall) scored in the top of the seventh to outlast the Trailblazers 1-0 in the opener before taking the nightcap 8-5. Both games were scheduled for seven innings.

Capital tallied four runs in the top of the first inning then retook the lead for good with three in the top of the sixth in Game 2. Junior centerfielder Nate Campbell (Latrobe, Pa.) finished 4-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in, while junior left fielder Taylor Branisel (South Euclid, Ohio) posted three hits, a run scored and three RBIs. Senior first baseman Brandon Natale (Westerville, Ohio) added a pair of hits, a run and an RBI.

Junior pitcher Jeremy Finchum (Galloway, Ohio) moved to 2-1 with the victory in relief. Finchum surrendered just one run while striking out a pair in five innings of work. 

In the first, Branisel doubled home Campbell and later scored on a triple by Natale. The Crusaders added two more on an Ohio Christian error to take an early 4-0 advantage.

After the Trailblazers rallied to tie through three frames, Campbell knocked in junior right fielder Andy Grillo (McArthur, Ohio) in the top of the fifth to give Capital the lead back. Tied at 5-5 in the sixth, junior pinch hitter Anthony Calabrese (Hudson, Ohio) pushed across the go-ahead run with a bunt, and Branisel plated two later in the inning with a single.

In the opener, sophomore pitcher Robert Fravel (Port Clinton, Ohio; above, right) tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits and four walks while striking out four in seven innings. The right-hander improved to 2-1 on the season with the victory.

Freshman catcher Kirby Boehm (Worthington, Ohio) plated what proved to be the game-winning run on a base hit in the top of the seventh.

Five different players tallied hits in the contest for the Crusaders.

Capital resumes play this Tuesday against Mount St. Joseph. First pitch of the non-league affair is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Clowson Field.