Eagles Topple Cards in Landmark
Doubleheader
CUA loses by one run in both contests
3/15/2008
WASHINGTON - The Catholic University baseball team had a tough
day on the field with a pair of losses to the Juniata College
Eagles (3-6, 2-0 Landmark) Saturday at Talbot Field. The
Cardinals had opportunities but couldn't quite hold on for the
victory as they fell 9-8 in the first game and 7-6 in the
second. With the losses, CUA drops to 4-6 on the season and
0-2 in the Landmark Conference.
Things looked good for CUA as they score two runs in the first
inning but Juniata began to come back matching the Cardinals' run
in the third and finally staging a five-run rally in the top of the
fourth to put CUA in a big hole. The Cards answered with two
runs in the fourth after a triple from Joe Maca (Oyster Bay,
N.Y./Saint Dominic) sparked the offense and in the fifth Mike
Michalski (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) singled to drive in a
run but it wouldn't be enough as Juniata continued to score.
CUA entered the bottom of the seventh trailing by three and
almost pulled off the comeback. A balk brought in Patrick
Quintana (Denver, Colo./Littleton) and moved Robbie O'Brien
(Columbia, Md./Long Reach) who had singled to get on base.
Joe Devine (Medford Lakes, N.J./Shawnee) then ripped a single to
right field which had O'Brien cross the plate as the Cards tried to
rally. Unfortunately it ended as Michalski came up and
smacked a line drive to the third baseman who managed to hold on
for the final out and the 9-8 Cardinal loss.
The Cards had 12 hits in the game while Juniata managed
seven. O'Brien led CUA at the plate going 3-4 with two runs
scored and an RBI. The Cardinal pitchers combined for three
strikeouts and ten walks which proved to be a key to the game as
Juniata had just three strikeouts and as many walks.
After the rough first game, CUA hoped to turn it around in the
second but the team would have no such luck. Juniata struck
first with a three-run second inning as CUA managed just one run in
the bottom of the stanza thanks to a Bobby Picardo (Atlantic
Highlands, N.J./Middletown South/Communications) sacrifice
fly. The Cards came within one in the third after O'Brien got
on with a double. However, the defense allowed three Juniata
runs in the fourth after two errors. Maca got CUA back on
track in the bottom of the inning with a long fly ball to center to
bring Picardo home and Mike Goodman also generated scores with a
homer for two RBI. The Cardinals managed to stay in the game
as the teams traded runs in the final three innings but once again
they fell just short losing 7-6.
Goodman had a solid game with three hits in four at bats two
runs scored and as many RBI. Tommy Little (Hyattsville,
Md./DeMatha) also went 3-4 and Picardo completed the top batters
with a 2-3 performance, two runs scored and an RBI. On the
mound the pitchers had five strikeouts and four walks in the game
for a better ratio the second time around.
The Cardinals will finish off their series with Juniata on
Sunday as the squads will play in a nine-inning contest at Talbot
field beginning at noon.
