Cards Split in First Two Games of Susquehanna Series
CUA pulls out a 2-1 win in first game

4/5/2008 

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Catholic University baseball team split with the Susquehanna Crusaders (12-11, 7-3) Saturday in the first two games of the Landmark Conference series.  The Cards won the first game 2-1 but fell in the second 13-6.  CUA moves to 12-10 on the season and 4-4 in conference play.

The Cards won the first game 2-1 after two key hits and a solid defensive effort.  Susquehanna scored in the first inning on a wild pitch to take and hold onto the lead until the fifth inning.  In the top of the fifth Tommy Bowles (Davidsonville, Md./Mount Saint Joe) with a hit and was brought home by a sac fly from Matthew Rosner (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West)  to make the score 2-1.  The Cards managed one more in the top of the sixth after Joe Maca (Oyster Bay, N.Y./Saint Dominic) led off with a triple and Mike Goodman (Brookville, Md./Sherwood) laid down a bunt to bring him in.  Neither team would cross the plate again making the final 2-1.

Even with the win the Cards were out hit 7-4 with both teams committing a single error.  Bowles led CUA with two hits for the game.  Ronnie Esposito (Annville, Pa./Annville-Cleona) got the win on the mound with nine strikeouts with Michael Bzozowski (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) earning the save facing the final batter.

Susquehanna got off to a quick start in the second game with four runs in the first inning.  However, the Cards evened the score in the top of the third thanks to seven hits in the inning including two for extra bases.  Paul Yantosh (Norristown, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) and Maca each recorded doubles and the RBI to make it 4-4.  Unfortunately this offensive spurt was short-lived as the Crusaders took a one-run lead in the bottom of the inning and then rallied for eight in the bottom of the fifth after seven hits of their own. 

With just two at bats remaining, the Cards were forced to rally, but it wouldn't be enough.  CUA managed two runs in the top of the sixth on a Mike Michalski (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) homer but that would be it as they fell 13-6.

Rosner was 3-3 in the game with two runs scored while Maca contributed a 3-4 effort with one RBI.  Susquehanna had 14 hits to CUA's 12 and the Cards had just one error in the game.  Danny Freeman (Stony Point, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) took the loss on the mound with two strikeouts on the day.

The Cards will face the Crusaders in the final game of the series on Sunday at 12 p.m.