WESTFIELD, Ind. – The Capital University baseball team was in action Saturday afternoon against Calvin College. The Crusaders won, 7-4, led by Shane Wellman's 12 strikeouts, nearly matching a career-high.

Junior Shane Wellman (Moundsville, W. Va.) started the game out by striking out nine of the first 11 batters he faced. He surrendered the first in the fourth inning. Wellman finished the game with 12 strikeouts, gave up only one hit and did not walk a batter in his five innings of work. He improved to 2-0 on the season.

After Wellman struck out the side in the top of the first, the Crusaders started the bottom half of the inning with four consecutive hits that scored two runs. Sophomore Alexander Smith (Elk Grove/ Calif.), junior Brett Colburn (Liberty Township, Ohio/ Lakota East), junior Logan Bastin (Mansfield, Ohio) and junior Tyler Gibbons (Liberty Township, Ohio/ Lakota East) all singled. Smith scored on the Gibbons' single and Colburn scored when sophomore Daniel Walters (Concord, Ohio) grounded into a double play.

Smith led the third inning off with a single. Bastin and Gibbons collected back-to-back doubles. Gibbons recorded two RBIs on his double that scored Smith and Bastin. Gibbons scored later in the inning, when senior Tyler Cetnarowski (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) singled. Capital extended the lead to 5-0.

The Knights finally got on the board when they plated two runs in the top of the sixth. Capital answered with one run in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Connor Hopkins (Highland Heights, Ohio) scored on a fielder's choice.

Calvin added a run in the eighth and ninth innings, but Capital was able to maintain the lead.

Colburn led the Crusaders offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Smith, Bastin, Gibbons, and Cetnarowski also recorded multi-hit games. Gibbons tallied a game-high three RBIs.

The Capital pitching staff finished with 19 strikeouts. Junior Brendon Borkey (Kirtland Hills, Ohio) added four strikeouts in two innings of work. Sophomore Casey Hamrick tallied two strikeouts in one inning of work. Sophomore Patrick Avellano (Alpharetta, Ga.) recorded one strikeout in his one inning.

The Crusaders improve to 7-2 on the season and are currently on a five-game winning streak. Capital returns to action Saturday, March 19 as they travel to the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Ind. to take on Franklin College at 1:30 p.m. and Adrian College at 7 p.m.