BATAVIA, Ohio – The Capital University baseball team opened up the 2023 season with an opening day split on the road at UC-Clermont. The Comets dropped game one 5-2 before taking the second game 14-7. 

Capital is now 1-1 on the young season and saw numerous newcomers factor in big ways. Between the two games, Capital slugged four home runs and drew eight walks for a balanced approach to get the job done. 

GAME ONE: Clermont wins 5-2
In the first game, the hosts rode a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning before the Comets were able to respond. 

They did respond as Ryne McKinney blasted his first home run of the season over the left field fence to get Cap going. 

The momentum from McKinney's fifth career blast carried over into the seventh where the Comets were able to get another run back as Hunter Wilson singled home Reagan Burch from second to bring the score 5-2. Unfortunately, that would be as close as Capital would get in the first game as they couldn't score another run. 

The aforementioned Burch had quite the debut game, by reaching base every time he was up. He finished 2-for-3 from the dish with a run scored and a hit-by-pitch. The other time on base was a fielder's choice. His two hits came courtesy of infield singles. 

Junior transfer Grayson Gulley also had an impactful Comet debut, also going 2-for-3. After an early strikeout, Gulley tripled in the fourth and singled in the sixth. 

Another freshman, Ty Clifton also ended with two hits, both singles in his first game as a collegian. 

The final freshman to collect his debut hit was Kielan LaMarr who singled in the top of the fifth. He also drew a walk to get on base a second time. 

On the mound, Curtis Clark started and pitched the first three innings, getting hit with the loss. He conceded three runs on four hits and a pair of walks. He did strike out three. 

In relief, Gavin Vanhorn and Aaron Olech ate up the middle innings, while freshman Casey Wilkins dealt the final frame. He sat down all three outs via the strikeout in his debut. 

GAME TWO: Capital wins 14-7
The Comets brought both their patience and their power to the second game of the say as they drew seven walks, were hit by three pitches, and smacked three home runs to lead to a dominant 14-7 victory in the night cap. 

Clermont got out to a 3-0 lead early on, but a two-run home run from Grayson Gulley in the top of the second inning got Cap right back into it. 

The Cougars tacked on one more in the bottom half of the inning to lead 4-2, but Capital responded with a nine-run fourth inning to establish full control of the game. In that frame, Ethan Neal walked home a run, Kielan LaMarr singled home two, Christopher Rockwell singled home one, Ty Clifton launched a grand slam and Tristan Burns doubled home another. The grand slam from Clifton was his first homer as a collegian. 

After a consolation run from the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth, Capital showed they were in full control as Kielan LaMarr clubbed his first collegiate home run – a two-run shot in the top of the fifth. 

The cherry on top came as Ethan Neal walked home his second RBI of the game in the top of the sixth inning. 

Freshman Trevor Woodyard got his first collegiate start in the second game, lasting 1.2 innings. He conceded four runs on four hits and four walks. He did record his first strikeout. 

Out of the bullpen, Joey Womble, Kaleb Stafford, Ethan Pollack, Spencer Knight, Adam Frump and Brennon Newell closed out the game. Pollack earned his first career win as he was in the game during the Comets' offensive outburst during the fourth inning. 

UP NEXT
Capital's next competition comes this Wednesday, March 1st as they head to Miami-Hamilton for a twinbill.