LANCASTER, Ohio - The Capital University baseball team dropped a pair of tightly contested games Saturday afternoon at Beavers Field, falling 4-3 to Bluffton before a 5-3 setback against Chatham.
With the results, the Comets move to 10-5 on the season.
GAME ONE (4-3 L)
Capital battled back but ultimately came up just short in the opener against Bluffton.
The Beavers struck first in the third inning, capitalizing on a Capital error to plate three runs and take an early 3–0 lead. The Comets responded in the bottom half of the frame when
Gio Mastrorosa delivered a two-run single down the left field line, bringing home
Charlie Colson and
Kielan LaMarr to cut the deficit to 3–2.
Bluffton added another run in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 4–2.
Capital continued to apply pressure offensively and pulled within one in the seventh. After Colson reached base and advanced into scoring position,
Bryce Kyees lined an RBI single to center to make it a 4–3 game.
The Comets threatened again in the ninth inning. Kyees led off with a single and Capital eventually loaded the bases with one out, but Bluffton recorded the final two outs to escape the jam and secure the win.
Kyees finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Mastrorosa added two hits and two RBIs. Colson reached base three times and scored twice.
On the mound,
Nash Andrix worked six innings, allowing four runs (two earned) while striking out six.
Casey Wilkins tossed three scoreless innings of relief and struck out four.
Game Two (5-3 L)
In the nightcap, Capital rallied midway through the game but could not overcome a four-run fifth inning by Chatham.
The Cougars opened the scoring in the third inning on a passed ball before breaking the game open in the fifth. Chatham strung together three hits and took advantage of a Capital error to score four runs and build a 5-0 advantage.
Capital answered in the sixth inning with a three-run rally. Colson drew a leadoff walk before LaMarr followed with a single.
Bryce Kyees then doubled to left to bring home the Comets' first run. A sacrifice fly from Mastrorosa and another from
Hutch Crociata plated two more runs to cut the deficit to 5-3.
The Comets continued to threaten, including a leadoff single from Kyees in the eighth, but Chatham's bullpen held Capital scoreless over the final three innings to close out the win.
Kyees led the offense with a 3-for-3 performance that included a double and an RBI, while LaMarr and Clifton each added hits.
On the mound,
Trevor Woodyard started and struck out five over 4.1 innings.
Tyler Bebout provided solid relief with five strikeouts across 2.2 innings, while
Drew Pfundt tossed a scoreless eighth.
UP NEXT
The Comets will be back in action on Wednesday, Mar. 18, when they travel to Delaware for a pair of games against Ohio Wesleyan. First pitch is slated for 1 pm.
