DALLAS, Texas – The Capital University baseball team found themselves back on the right side of the line on Friday following a seventh inning comeback against Dallas Christian. The Comets battled through heavy wind on a chilly afternoon as they crossed the plate three times in the final frame to pull ahead of the Crusaders, 9-8.
Cap is now 4-6 on the season, matching their win total for all of last season and pointing to bigger things to come as the
Scott Manahan era gets underway in Columbus.
Matt Miller got the nod for the Purple and White, his first start of the year. It would be a rough day for the junior from Pennsylvania, as he gave up a total of five earned runs in only an inning and a third. Otherwise in his shortened outing, he struck out three batters and allowed four hits and four free passes.
The Comets were bolstered out of the bullpen by
Garrett Montgomery. Working in an extended relief role, he hurled for four and two-thirds innings, striking out four, walking one, hitting one, and allowing four hits and only two earned runs. Montgomery earned the win in this one, giving him a record of 1-1.
Slamming the door for Capital was
Kaleb Stafford. In his one inning of work, he struck out one batter and allowed one hit. The save goes down as his first of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets got on the board early when
Ryne McKinney knocked a double into left field in the top of the first, driving in
Logan White.
EJ Santana would follow this up by reaching base on a throwing error by the Dallas Christian third baseman, giving Cap a 2-0 lead.
The tides turned in the bottom half of the first as the Crusaders would push across five runs, giving them a 5-2 lead. In the second, Dallas Christian crossed the plate again making it a 6-2 game.
Capital would strike back in the third inning when
Cade Anderson doubled to right center allowing the trio of
Cooper Walker,
Ethan Neal, and
EJ Santana to come around and score, knotting the game at six runs apiece.
However, another two run inning by the Crusaders in the latter half would give Dallas Christian another lead, this time 8-6.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth innings went by quietly, with neither team able to put any runs on the board.
Down three in the final frame, Capital had to make something happen.
Ben Stevens got the ball rolling with a double to right field, bringing in
Cole Callaghan. Stevens then came around to score on a wild pitch that also advanced
Ryne McKinney to third. Finally, another wild pitch opened the door for McKinney to score and Capital took a lead they would not surrender, 9-8.
Cade Anderson had himself a day at the plate, achieving three hits and two doubles as well as three RBIs for the first time in his career.
UP NEXT
The Comets wrap up their Texas trip with an early morning double-header on March 12 in Dallas, first taking on Blackburn College at 9:30 a.m. CST and ending the day against Dakota State at 12 p.m. CST.
