By: Sean Neidig, sports information graduate assistant

BEREA, Ohio – Capital University Baseball took part in its second doubleheader in as amny days against the Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets on Saturday but the Crusaders were not able to get a win in a nail-biter of a first game and shutout in the second.

Game 1 – Capital 4, Baldwin Wallace 5

The Crusaders led 4-3 heading into the ninth inning but Chase Knodle led off the final frame with a single for the Yellow Jackets. Dudley Taw then grounded out but moved Knodle into scoring position. Alex Marcum then doubled in the tying run and Spencer Badia knocked a single to right center that handed the Crusaders the loss.

Pitcher Joseph Borkey took the loss for the Crusaders a day after picking up his second save of the season. Patrick Avellano started the game for Capital and allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings while striking out three.

Capital started the scoring with two runs in the first inning with RBIs courtesy of Daniel Walters and Connor Richardson. However, Baldwin Wallace responded quickly and tied the game in the home half of the opening frame with a pair of RBI singles.

The Yellow Jackets took the lead in the fourth inning when Knodle singled in a run but Capital snatched the lead right back in the fifth. Connor Hopkins led the inning off with a single and Ben Bethay was hit by a pitch to give Capital runners on first and second with no outs. After a flyout, Hopkins scooted over to third on a failed pickoff attempt. With Zackary Ary at the plate, the senior reached on a fielder's choice bunt that moved Bethay over but Hopkins was tagged out at home. Ary and Bethay then each moved up a base on a passed ball and Alexander Smith drew a walk to load the bases. Shayne Lyons then singled to left that allowed Ary and Bethay to score. Smith was then tagged out at third after the two runs scored to end the inning.

Michael Hubert started the game for Baldwin Wallace and pitched into the fifth but was relieved by Jack Raines with one out in the inning. Hubert allowed four runs on four hits. Raines picked up the win by pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings and striking out four.

Richardson finished the game 2-for-4 and was the only Crusader with more than one hit.

Game 2 – Capital 0, Baldwin Wallace 6

In the second game of the day, the Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning with another two-run single from Knodle, a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a single from Badia that brought Knodle home.

The Crusaders may have been feeling some déjà vu in the fifth inning when once again Badia singled through the right side to score Knodle and give BW a 5-0 lead. Knodle scored his third run of the game in the seventh when Alex Marcum brought him home.

Richardson and Smith each finished with two hits for Capital. Alex Muckensturm allowed five runs in six innings in the start for Capital and Casey Hamrick allowed one run. Muckensturm also struck out five.

The Crusaders are off during the week before hosting the University of Mount Union on Saturday, April 28 for the final home series of 2018 at Clowson Field.