The Capital University baseball team clicked on all cylinders Thursday in a 12-0 victory at Wittenberg in a non-conference contest in Springfield, Ohio.

The Crusaders (9-4 overall) pounded out 12 hits, while junior pitchers Robert Fravel (Port Clinton, Ohio) and Derek Colston (Port Clinton, Ohio) combined for a two-hit shutout.

Fravel (2-1) started the game and allowed just one hit in six inning, walking two and striking out three. Colston tossed the final three frames in relief, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out a pair.

After plating a run in the first inning on a two-out, run-scoring single by junior first baseman Matt Carnahan (Moundsville, W.Va.), the Crusaders broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning.

With two in scoring position after a double steal by senior outfielders Andy Grillo (McArthur, Ohio) and Taylor Branisel (South Euclid, Ohio), senior third baseman Ryan Pearson (Springfield, Ohio) brought home Grillo with a base hit to center.

Carnahan followed with a single to plate Branisel before freshman designated hitter Logan Bastin (Lexington, Ohio) smacked an RBI double to right center to bring home Pearson. Sophomore catcher Kirby Boehm (Worthington, Ohio) made it 5-0 Capital with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Carnahan.

In the fourth, the Crusaders tacked on two more on an RBI single by Branisel and a sacrifice fly by Pearson.

After tallying three runs – all unearned – in the fifth and sixth innings, Capital topped off its scoring effort with two more in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Grillo and a two-out single to left by Branisel.

Senior centerfielder Nate Campbell (Latrobe, Pa.) finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, four stolen bases and a pair or walks. Branisel and Carnahan totaled two hits and two RBIs apiece.

Pearson was 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs. Senior second baseman Anthony Calabrese (Hudson, Ohio) also knocked in a run.

Capital opens the Ohio Athletic Conference season this Saturday at Muskingum. First pitch in the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. in New Concord.