IRVING, Texas – Kicking off their spring break trip to the Dallas, Texas area, the Capital University baseball team had their fair share of opportunities, but ultimately fell by a margin of two runs in both games at the University of Dallas this afternoon. 

The results today slid Capital back to an early season record of 2-3. The team had previously opened up the season by taking two-out-of-three from an opening weekend series with West Virginia Tech. 

In today's games, Ryne McKinney carried the big bat as he collected three hits – one home run and two doubles. McKinney leads the team with a .400 batting average in his four games played. 
Five different players recorded RBIs this afternoon. McKinney with his homer, Brendan Stinson, Matt Miller, EJ Santana, and Logan White each collected a ribbie. 

GAME ONE: Dallas wins 7-5
The Comets got out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the hosts got four of their own in the bottom half of the inning, setting the game off to a hot start. For Capital, they started the game by loading the bases on three straight walks. Josh Gilmore, Logan White, and Ben Stevens all showed patience at the dish to get on base. Matt Miller then flew out to center, allowing Gilmore to score from third. EJ Santana then followed up Miller with a single to left, scoring White. 

In the second, Cap got one run back, as Cole Callaghan, Gilmore, and White all drew walks, putting Callaghan in a position to score on some smart base running.
 
Just an inning later, the Comets tied it up at 4-4. Freshman Ryne McKinney – playing in his home state of Texas – led off the inning with a home run to left field. The dinger was the first of his young career. 

During the bottom of the fourth, Dallas was able to get to Cap's starting pitcher Curtis Clark again by putting three more runs on the board. Clark lasted 3.2 innings in his start, allowing seven hits, seven runs (six earned), and just one walk. He also punched out one. Despite getting roughed up a bit by the Dallas hitters, Clark threw just 40 pitches, with 27 of them hitting the strike zone. 

Capital got one run back in the top of the fifth, but it would be for mere consolation. Connor Feeney led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Two batters later, Feeney scored on an RBI single from Brendan Stinson. 

Tyler Sickles relieved Clark out of the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth, finishing the last 2.1 innings of work. He conceded just two hits and kept Dallas scoreless. 

Most impressive in the game, Capital was extremely patient at the plate, as the team drew an astonishing 12 walks. The feat was last accomplished by Capital vs. John Carroll on March 21, 2021. 

GAME TWO: Dallas wins 4-2
The Comets played from behind from the getgo in game two, as Dallas (4-5) got two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. 

The hosts continued to extend their lead with a single run in the bottom of the second and the bottom of the sixth, garnering a 4-0 lead. 

Meanwhile, Capital struggled at the plate as Dallas starter Adrian Montenegro pitched a two-hit shutout through five innings. Ryne McKinney broke up the no-no bid in the fourth with a double to straight away center field. Later in the fifth, Josh Sagredo reached on an infield single. Unfortunately, Cap couldn't do anything with either base runner. 

McKinney again doubled in the top of the sixth – this time to right field – but again couldn't score. 

In the seventh frame, the Comets made a run at a comeback, scoring two runs, but in the end, came up short. First, Logan White singled into right field that plated Brendan Stinson. The next batter, CJ Rockwell, then drew a walk that enabled Cole Callaghan to score another run. Despite the effort, McKinney's deep flyout to center ended the game, 4-2 with Dallas claiming the win. 

Capital's Gavin Vanhorn got the start on the bump and was hit with the loss. Vanhorn surrendered five hits, three runs (two earned), and a walk, while striking out three hitters in the process. He lasted four innings. Kyle Bowles and Spencer Knight worked in relief each throwing one inning a piece. 

UP NEXT
Capital will keep their trip going with a single game tomorrow afternoon. The Comets will take on Eureka College on the campus of Austin College. The neutral site contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. locally (2 p.m. EST).