A four-run third inning was all Capital University needed as they turned back the Denison University baseball team 5-3 on Tuesday afternoon at Beavers Field in Lancaster, Ohio.

Things looked good for the Big Red in the early stages of the game.  After a double down the right line and a stolen base put Matt Forgatch at third with one out, the senior third baseman came around to score on a ground out to second by junior Andrew Mahle.  Junior catcher Justin Vaske doubled the DU lead with a home run lead off the second frame.

In the third inning, Evan Nicholson led things off with a base hit to left field.  After an error moved the junior to second, Nicholson advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by his twin brother Tyler Nicholson.  Forgatch gave Denison a 3-0 edge with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the third, Capital took the lead on a three-run double by Ryan Pearson that scored Zach Byers, James Oldfield and Brandon Natale.  The Crusaders tacked on an insurance run in the fifth when Byers knocked in Natale on an RBI ground out to second.

Vaske paced the Big Red offense with two hits, including a home run, an RBI and a run scored, while Forgatch had a double, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.  Sophomore Philip Seay suffered the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in 2.2 innings of work.  Reliever Bob Giarratani allowed one run, scattered two hits and struck out three in 5.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Denison (11-10) returns to action on Wednesday (March 30) when they host third-ranked Heidelberg University at 4 p.m.