COLUMBUS, Ohio – Playing a non-conference doubleheader with Wittenberg University, the Capital University baseball team earned a hard-fought split with the Tigers, winning game one before falling in the nightcap.
The Comets (10-25 overall) won game one 8-5 before falling 9-3 in game two.
Leading the way offensively for the day was
Cole Callaghan who hit safely five times. Callaghan was also hit by a pitch in the first game as well to reach base six times. He scored two times as well.
Additionally,
Ryne McKinney had a day with three base hits and three RBIs in the first contest.
Connor Feeney added two hits and two RBIs as well.
Brendan Stinson managed just one hit on the day, but made it count with his first homer of the season – a towering drive to left field.
On the mound, the game one win went to reliever
Garrett Montgomery who tossed just two-thirds of an inning, but his work led the Comets to the final lead change.
Brennon Newell threw the seventh inning and worked around a bases-loaded jam to blank the Tigers and earn his second save of the year.
Game two was started by
Tyler Sickles, who was also hit with the loss. He lasted 1.1 innings allowing five hits, seven runs, and two walks. He did strike out one, however. A bevy of relievers worked game two, including solid work from
Aaron Olech,
Connor Jones,
Spencer Knight,
Kaleb Stafford,
Gavin Vanhorn,
Ben Hatfield, and
Garrett Kroese.
GAME ONE: Capital wins 8-5
The Comets were set back as Wittenberg scored twice in the top of the first inning to take an early lead.
Despite playing out of a hole, Capital responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first, courtesy of some patient at-bats. The bases were loaded off back-to-back walks by
Logan White and
Brandon Barnette, followed by a hit by pitch from
Ethan Neal. With ducks on the pond,
Ryne McKinney drew yet another walk to score the first run – and chase the Wittenberg starting pitcher from the game.
After the pitching change,
Brendan Stinson banged into a fielder's choice and everyone was safe as the Wittenberg third baseman overthrew home on the attempted putout. The error proved costly as
Connor Feeney delivered a two-RBI single at the next at-bat to put Capital ahead 4-2 after one.
Wittenberg leveled the score with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but Capital responded yet again. In the bottom of the fifth,
Logan White reached via an error, and after a stolen base scored on
Ryne McKinney's RBI single.
After another tied game in the sixth, Capital used the bottom half of the inning to lay claim to the winning runs.
Brandon Barnette got the party started with an RBI double to left that scored Callaghan from first. After
Logan White was intentionally walked, both he and Barnette would come around to score on a wild pitch, followed by another RBI single from McKinney. The three insurance runs proved enough as Capital escaped with the 8-5 win.
GAME TWO: Wittenberg wins 9-3
Capital was kept relatively mum at the plate, especially after falling behind on a three-run home run in the top of the first inning.
The first two plus innings of offense were relatively quick for the Comets, but Capital eventually got on the board in the bottom of the third.
Josh Gilmore beat out an infield single and they moved to third on
Cole Callaghan's double down the left field line. Gilmore then scored on a balk before Callaghan scored on a defensive miscue in the Wittenberg outfield, bringing the score to 7-2.
The next inning, Capital got another run back as
Brendan Stinson sent a moon-shot of a home run over the left field fence to close the gap a little bit more.
Unfortunately, two more runs for Wittenberg (22-9 overall) in the top of the fifth inning were enough to give them the 9-3 win in the end.
UP NEXT
Capital will hit the road for their final road trip of the season as they head to Alliance, Ohio to take on the University of Mount Union this Saturday. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
