AURBURNDALE, Fla. – The Capital University baseball team was in action Saturday morning against Clark University. The Crusaders won, 8-3, led by Alexander Smith and Joe Caporale, both of whom went 2-for-4 on the day.

Capital jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Brett Colburn (Liberty Township, Ohio/ Lakota East) scored on a series of passed balls tossed by Conor Walsh in the first inning.

After a Cougars run in the bottom of the first tied the game, neither team scored again until the top of the sixth inning. The Crusaders scored four runs in the top of the sixth, all coming with two outs. Kirby Boehm (Worthington, Ohio/ Thomas Worthington) scored on a Joe Caporale (Mayfield, Ohio) single to right field. The next batter, Connor Hopkins (Highland Heights, Ohio) was hit by a pitch. Alexander Smith (Elk Grove, Calif.) doubled to left center scoring Tyler Cetnarowski (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) and Caporale. Hopkins later scored on a passed ball which extended the lead to 5-1.

Tyler Gibbons (Liberty Township, Ohio/ Lakota East) led the top of the seventh inning off with a solo shot over the center field wall, the first of his career.

Capital added two more runs in the top of the eighth. The first run came on an RBI single by Smith that scored Caporale. Hopkins then scored on a fielder's choice, which extended the Crusader lead to 8-1.

Clark added two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but the deficit was too much to overcome.

Smith and Caporale finished the day 2-for-4. Smith finished the day with three RBIs and added a stolen base. Caporal scored two runs, added an RBI and recorded a stolen base.

Junior Brendon Borkey (Kirtland Hills, Ohio) got his first win of the season. Borkey finished the game with six strike outs and only surrendered one earned run on three hits in six innings of work. The Capital bullpen had a strong showing as well. Tyler Spears (Washington Courthouse, Ohio/ Washington) pitched two innings and struck out four. Jared Bass (Warrington, Pa.) finished with one inning and struck out two.

The Crusaders improve to 6-2 on the season. Capital returns to action Saturday, March 12 against Calvin College in Westfield, Ind. at 2 p.m.