By: Ray Delgado, assistant sports information director

ADDITIONAL INFO

Schedule  |  Roster  |  Statistics  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University baseball team has started out 2020 playing sound baseball down in Auburndale, Fla., moving to 2-0 on the season following a 9-3 victory over Castleton University. The game was all tied up going into the ninth inning at 3-3 before the Crusader offense erupted to score six runs and tally their second victory.

ON THE MOUND

• Freshman Curtis Clark pitched well in his collegiate debut, getting through 4.2 innings while allowing just four hits and one earned run. He also fanned seven in the effort, relinquishing the rock to Jared Heidecker with the game tied 2-2.
• Junior Heidecker closed out the ballgame, pitching 4.1 innings of one run ball and striking out six in route to his first victory of the season.
• The two hurlers combined to allow just seven hits and two earned runs in the contest.

POTENT OFFENSE

• The Crusaders jumped on the opposing pitching in the first inning, starting with a Beau Otto single and a Shane Lyons walk. Bryce Grisez wasted no time, knocking in Otto with a single and moving Lyons to second. On the next play, Lyons stole third and an errant throw by the catcher sent him home to put another run on the board.
• Clark struck out three in the second inning but one run crossed the plate for the Spartans from back-to-back hits and an error to bring the score to 2-1.
• Castleton scored once more in the third inning and both teams bats went quiet until the top of the seventh inning when Capital's Drew Ellis singled then stole second and was driven in by Cole Callaghan who doubled to left center.
• The top of the ninth inning sealed the victory as the Crusaders could not stop rounding the bases. The inning started with an Ellis walk and Callaghan single. Otto roped his fourth hit of the day to score Ellis and more Callaghan to third.
• Otto stole second and Lyons dropped a ball into left field that cleared the bases and gave Capital the 6-3 advantage.
• With runners on the corners, senior Connor Richardson smashed a ball over the fence in left center to cap off the six run inning and give the Crusaders the victory.

THE STATISTICS

• Second baseman Otto has started the season on a tear, collecting four hits in consecutive games to bat 8-10 in the opening two contests. He has also knocked in two and scored six runs while swiping five bags.
• Connor Richardson collected his lone hit of the afternoon at the most opportune time, clubbing his first homerun of the season and fourth of his career.

UP NEXT

• Capital continues their road trip, taking on Alma College (Mich.) tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

##  CRUSADERS  ##