COLUMBUS – The Capital University baseball team was unable to hold off a potent offensive attack Saturday, dropping consecutive games against Mount Union in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at Clowson Field.

The Crusaders (11-14 overall, 2-8 OAC) were defeated 18-6 in the opener, then 12-4 in the nightcap.

The Purple Raiders (14-9, 3-7) pounded out 39 hits in the two games combined.

In the second game, Mount Union tallied seven runs in the second inning and never trailed.

Capital posted its first run in the bottom of the sixth when junior first baseman Matt Carnahan (Moundsville, W.Va.) doubled with one out, then later scored on an error.

The Crusaders tacked on three more in the bottom of the eighth as sophomore pinch hitter Tyler Cetnarowski (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) hit an infield single to force a throwing error that plated two runs. Freshman right fielder Jake Foley (Pataskala, Ohio), who came on to pinch hit in the frame for senior Andy Grillo (McArthur, Ohio) drove home Cetnarowski to cut the Capital deficit to 10-4.

Senior left-hander Kevin Brennan (Mason, Ohio) started and pitched four innings to take the loss, dropping to 1-3 on the year.

Carnahan and senior left fielder Taylor Branisel (South Euclid, Ohio) led the offense with two hits apiece.

In Game 1, the Crusaders jumped out to a 4-1 lead through one inning of play thanks to a run-scoring double by Branisel and back-to-back home runs by senior third baseman Ryan Pearson (Springfield, Ohio) and Carnahan. It was the second of the year for each player.

The Purple Raiders responded in the top of the second with six runs, then took a commanding lead with one run in the third and two in the top of the fifth.

Pearson cut into the Mount Union advantage with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth. Capital scored again in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI groundout by senior second baseman Anthony Calabrese (Hudson, Ohio).

Senior RHP Justin Hoying (Ft. Loramie, Ohio) started and took his first loss of the year, moving to 1-1.

Pearson and Carnahan tallied two hits apiece, with Pearson knocking in three and Carnahan scoring twice. Senior centerfielder Nate Campbell (Latrobe, Pa.) added a pair of runs.

The Crusaders continue league play Tuesday at Marietta. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.