WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Capital University baseball team ventured over to Wilmington College on Friday afternoon where they dropped a pair of contests with the Quakers in the fashion of 13-8 and 4-3 scorelines.
The Comets now fall back to 8-22 overall and 1-11 in conference play, while Wilmington improves to 15-16, 4-8.
On the day, Capital had several players see the ball well at the plate, led largely by
Logan White who collected five hits in the two games. Elsewhere,
Brandon Barnette,
Ryne McKinney,
Abram Sykora and
Cole Callaghan each collected a pair of hits each.
GAME ONE - Wilmington wins 13-8
Cap played from behind, trailing 5-0 before they would garner a run. Eventually in the top of the fourth, the Comets scored one off a run from
Logan White.
Connor Feeney reached on an error by the Wilmington shortstop and White scored in the process.
In what became routine, Capital began to add small numbers of runs in each inning as they got two more in the top of the fifth.
Ethan Neal blooped a single just behind the pitcher which scored
Brandon Barnette. White scored for the second time in the game as the Wilmington pitcher threw the ball away to allow him the time to trot home.
Another run came in the sixth as
Josh Sagredo laced an RBI single to left that scored Feeney. Again, the Comets continued the small-ball approach and added one more in the seventh. This time
Logan White clubbed a double to left center that scored Barnette.
In the eighth, Cap got two more off an RBI single from
Brendan Stinson up the middle. Sagredo and
Abram Sykora came around to score on the hit. Sykora then delivered an RBI single of his own in the ninth that scored
Josh Gilmore who was pinch running.
Despite the consistent offense that scored eight runs on 10 hits, the Comets just couldn't find a way to score in bunches and succumbed to the Quakers by a final score of 13-8.
Game one's starting pitcher
Kyle Bowles had a decent start, in the sense he was pounding the strike zone, considering he threw four full innings and did not concede a walk. Unfortunately, at the same token, Bowles' consistent throwing of strikes, led to a flurry of Wilmington hits as the Quakers tagged 14 base knocks off the Cap starter. Those hits led to eight runs – five of which were earned.
Bryant Caporale threw 2.1 innings of relief and was strapped for five hits and five runs.
Spencer Knight worked the final 1.2 innings and allowed just one base runner on a walk.
GAME TWO - Wilmington wins 4-3 (10 innings)
In the second game, Capital rode a solid start from
Justin Mason through four and two-thirds innings of work. Mason – who was starting his second game of the year – allowed just two hits, one walk, and two runs (one earned) in his outing. He also struck out three Quakers.
With Mason throwing well, Capital grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning courtesy of
Ryne McKinney's fourth home run of the season, a drive over the fence in left.
The Quakers would go on to score single runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to grab a 2-1 lead.
Despite going down by a run, Capital responded back with a run in the top of the sixth that would knot the score at twos through until the 10th inning. Capital put back-to-back hits together to score their run.
Brandon Barnette led off with a single to left just before
Logan White would bring him home on an RBI double to left center.
The Comets would cruise on solid relief innings by
Colin Boldin and
Brennon Newell to get through until the 10th inning.
In the top of the ninth, Capital had a chance to get some runs, but stranded the bases loaded. Again in the 10th, Capital loaded them up on walks from
Josh Gilmore and
Brendan Stinson. Barnette then singled through the left side, scoring Gilmore from second. Unfortunately – after White reached on another single – Capital stranded the bases loaded yet again.
Heading to the home half of the 10th, Capital got behind early as the lead-off reached base on an error – the sixth of the game for Cap. From there, the Quakers loaded the bases and won 4-3 off a two-RBI single up the middle from Noah Martin.
Newell – who tossed two and two-thirds innings – was strapped with the loss, having conceded three hits, two runs (one earned) and four free passes. Both Boldin (1.2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks) and Newell each had one strikeout.
UP NEXT
Capital makes the quick return to action as they will travel to Ada, Ohio tomorrow for a two-game set with Ohio Northern. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. at ONU.
