ALLIANCE, Ohio - The Mount Union baseball team (19-7, 11-1 OAC) split a doubleheader matchup against Capital University (13-19, 4-8 OAC) at Rafeld-Rogers Field. The Purple Raiders have now won 14 out of their last 15 games.

In game one, left-handed starting pitcher Zachary Breeden (Cincinnati, Ohio / Oak Hills) pitched 5.0 innings with five strikeouts, allowing six runs, but only two of which were earned.

Capital jumped out to a 6-0 lead until graduate second baseman Andrew Witte (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) hit a two-RBI single through the right side in the bottom of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Mount Union added another run with an RBI single to right field by senior third baseman Chris Viamonte (Naples, FL. / Coral Gables), trimming the lead to 6-3.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Chase Mayer (Amherst, Ohio / Amherst Steele) had a phenomenal game out of the bullpen, pitching 4.0 innings with a career-high nine strikeouts, while allowing only one hit and zero runs. The Purple Raiders had traffic in the ninth inning, two runners on and two outa, but the team's rally just fell short, losing 6-3, ending the team's 13-game win streak.

In game two, right-handed pitcher  Brady Hansen (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area) had a dominant start, pitching 7.2 innings with 10 strikeouts, allowing only three hits and three runs, earning his fifth win on the season.

Mount Union began the game with an impressive display of offense, scoring five runs in the first inning. Senior shortstop Alex Stegman (Berea, Ohio / Berea-Midpark) ignited the scoring for the Purple Raiders with an RBI single to right field. After Stegman stole second base, Witte stole home during the same play.

Freshman catcher Daniel Thome III (Lakewood, Ohio / St. Edwards) then contributed with an RBI single down the right-field line. Finally, junior outfielder Chris Tsouras (Las Vegas, Nev. / Arbor) capped off the inning with a booming two-run home run to deep right-center, marking his fourth homer of the season. In game two, Tsouras went 3-for-3, including two home runs and a double, driving in five runs. He now leads the team in RBIs with a total of 28.

Thome added another run in the third inning with an RBI triple and has 14 hits in his six games. Tsouras followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, bringing Mount Union's lead to 7-0. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Viamonte hit a sacrifice fly to extend the Purple Raiders' lead further. The offense continued to be aggressive, as Tsouras scored on a wild pitch and senior first baseman Johnny Costella (Cleveland, Ohio / Trinity) crossed the plate on a passed ball in the fifth inning, giving the Purple Raiders the 10-1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Tsouras was not done as he delivered yet another home run to deep right field, another no-doubt home run to deep right field, his second of the game and fifth of the season. The Purple Raiders kept it pouring as Viamonte delivered a deep sacrifice fly to left field, extending Mount Union's lead to 13-2.

Junior right-handed pitcher Jeremy Moore (Stow, Ohio / Stow-Monroe Falls) finished the game pitching 1.1 innings with three strikeouts, allowing one run, with the run being unearned, securing the 13-4 win for the Purple Raiders.

Mount Union's next game will be tomorrow on the road at The College of Wooster, set for 3:00 PM.