The Capital University baseball team fell victim to a late scoring surge Thursday in a 7-5 setback at Denison in a non-conference affair at Granville, Ohio.

The Crusaders (11-12 overall) held a five-run lead midway through the contest before the Big Red tallied seven unanswered runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Senior centerfielder Nate Campbell (Latrobe, Pa.) led Capital with two hits and a run batted in. Senior right fielder Andy Grillo (McArthur, Ohio) and freshman second baseman Brett Colburn (Liberty Township, Ohio) also knocked in runs for the Crusaders, who totaled nine hits, including 10 singles, in the contest.

Sophomore right-hander Jeff Small (Sylvania, Ohio) dropped to 1-1 with the loss in relief of freshman RHP Michael Davis (Fairfield, Ohio), who started and tossed the first 5 2/3 innings. Freshman righty Tyler Spears (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) didn't allow a hit in pitching the final 1 1/3 frames.

Capital tallied three times in the top of the second, with all runs coming after two outs were made. Campbell walked in a run with the bases loaded, and senior left fielder Taylor Branisel (South Euclid, Ohio) reached on an error as the play allowed another two runs to score.

The Crusaders plated two more in the fifth on RBI singles by Grillo and Colburn.

Denison (9-9) plated three in the fifth, two in the sixth to tie the game and two more in the seventh to take the lead for good.

Capital left 14 men on base, compared to eight for the Big Red. The Crusaders left the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth innings.

The Crusaders resume Ohio Athletic Conference play this Saturday against Mount Union. First pitch of the doubleheader at Clowson Field is set for 1 p.m.