Cardinals Swept in First Landmark Series
CUA struggles to general runs in game three

3/17/2008

WASHINGTON - The Catholic University baseball squad lost the final contest in its three-game series against the Juniata College Eagles (4-6, 3-0 Landmark) Monday afternoon at Talbot Field. The Cards dropped the 4-1 decision to the Eagles to fall to 4-7 overall and 0-3 in the Landmark Conference.

The Cardinal offense struggled to get anything go in the game while the defense fought to keep Juniata close. The Eagles scored two runs in the second inning on a double and then one more after the runner made it to first on a CUA error.

Trailing 3-0, the Cardinal offense finally looked to be on track in the bottom seventh when Patrick Quintana (Denver, Colo./Littleton) hit a long single advancing Joe Devine (Medford Lakes, N.J./Shawnee) to third. Tommy Bowles (Davidsonville, Md./Mount Saint Joe) followed with an RBI moving Quintana to third as the Cards began chipping away at the lead. During the next at bat, a pass ball went behind the plate and Quintana took off for home but he couldn't evade the tag the pitcher's close tag making it the third out of the inning.

During the final two innings the Cards mixed up the pitchers but nothing could get back the game as Juniata scored once more. A double play in the bottom of the ninth ended it with the final 4-1 in favor of the Eagles.

Devine and Tommy Little (Hyattsville, Md./DeMatha) each went 2-4 at the plate to lead the Cardinals. On the mound, Kevin Sweeny was given the loss with four strikeouts in 20 at bats.

The Cards will host St. Joseph's of Maine on Thursday in a noon doubleheader.