The Capital University baseball team forfeited a late lead Monday, but recovered in a dramatic ninth inning to defeat Franklin (Ind.) 7-6 at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale, Fla.

After the Grizzlies (2-2) took a 6-5 lead in the top half of the frame, the Crusaders (2-1) were down to their final two outs before rallying to tie – and eventually win – the contest.

Senior third baseman Ryan Pearson (Springfield, Ohio) got things started with a one-out double. Junior first baseman Matt Carnahan (Moundsville, W.Va.) tied the affair with a triple to plate freshman Jake Foley (Pataskala, Ohio), who entered to pinch run for Pearson.

Three batters later, with the bases loaded and two outs, sophomore catcher Kirby Boehm (Worthington, Ohio) singled to score senior Jake Nelson (Utica, Ohio), who pinch ran for Carnahan, from third.

Sophomore left-hander Adam Journic (Akron, Ohio) picked up the win, tossing 1 1/3 innings of relief. Senior righty Jeremy Finchum (Galloway, Ohio) threw six strong innings in his first start of the season, allowing just four hits while striking out six. He gave way to freshman right-hander Shane Wellman (Moundsville, W.Va.), who went 1 2/3 before Journic entered in the eighth.

Pearson led Capital with a 3-for-5 performance and a pair of runs batted in. Senior centerfielder Nate Campbell (Latrobe, Pa.) and senior right fielder Andy Grillo (McArthur, Ohio) contributed with two hits apiece. Campbell reached base in all five of his plate appearances, drawing walks in the other three.

Boehm reached base four times and finished 1-for-2, while Carnahan knocked in three runs.

Franklin struck first in the top of the second, plating a runner from third on a sacrifice fly. The Crusaders responded with two in the sixth on a run-scoring hit by Pearson and a bases-loaded walk by Carnahan, then tacked on three more in the seventh thanks to singles by Grillo and Pearson, and a sacrifice fly by Carnahan.

Capital's four-run lead shrunk to one in the top of the eighth as the Grizzlies knocked three home with three hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. The Crusaders threw out a Franklin runner at the plate to end the frame and limit the damage.

In the ninth, the Grizzlies took advantage of a leadoff walk and knocked four singles to take the lead and set up Capital's bottom-of-the-ninth heroics.

The Crusaders resume play tomorrow against Hanover (Ind.). First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. at Chain O' Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Fla.