The Capital University baseball team fell behind early and was unable to come all the way back Wednesday, falling 12-7 against Mount St. Joseph in a non-conference contest at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio.

The Crusaders (10-6 overall) trailed 10-2 through three innings after the Lions tallied six times in the second and four times in the third.

Capital and Mount St. Joseph (6-8-1) each finished with 10 hits for the contest. The Crusaders left 12 on base, compared to four for the Lions.

Freshman designated hitter Logan Bastin (Lexington, Ohio) led the Capital offense with three hits and a pair of runs scored. Senior left fielder Taylor Branisel (South Euclid, Ohio) and junior first baseman Matt Carnahan (Moundsville, W.Va.) totaled two hits apiece.

Branisel and senior centerfielder Nate Campbell (Latrobe, Pa.) each knocked in two runs. The pair also combined for three stolen bases.

Freshman right-hander Michael Davis (Fairfield, Ohio) started on the mound and took the loss, dropping to 1-1 on the year. Junior righty Derek Colston (Port Clinton, Ohio), freshman right-hander Shane Wellman (Moundsville, W.Va.) and lefty Adam Journic (Akron, Ohio) each came on in relief. Colston went four innings, while Wellman and Journic tossed one frame apiece.

The Crusaders manufactured one run each in the first, second and fourth innings. Branisel plated Campbell with a sacrifice fly in the first, then Bastin, who singled with one out in the second, scored on an error. In the fourth, Campbell tripled to score senior shortstop Brian Wyer (New Albany, Ohio).

Capital posted four runs in the top of the fifth to pull within 10-7. Senior second baseman Anthony Calabrese (Hudson, Ohio) brought home one with a base hit, Wyer and Campbell drew bases-loaded walks and Branisel hit an RBI single before a double play ended the frame.

The Crusaders resume Ohio Athletic Conference play Saturday against cross-town rival Otterbein. First pitch at Clowson Field is slated for 1 p.m.