Third-Seeded Cardinals Upset Juniata to Advance to Championship
CUA will face the winner of Juniata/Scranton on Sunday

5/3/2008 

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Catholic University of America baseball team (25-13-1) pulled off a 5-3 upset of the top-seeded and hosting Juniata College Eagles (26-11) Saturday in the Landmark Conference tournament.  Without a loss in the double-elimination tournament, the Cardinals will play on Sunday in the Landmark Conference Championship needing only one win to get the title, a loss will force a second game.

The Cardinals were looking to redeem themselves against the Eagles who had swept them in the first conference series of the season back in March.  Despite the motivation, it was Juniata that struck first scoring in the second after a lead off double.  The Cardinal rally was in the top of the fourth after Mike Goodman (Brookville, Md./Sherwood) reached on a walk and Tommy Bowles (Davidsonville, Md./Mount Saint Joe) was hit by a pitch.  Another hit loaded the bases for Patrick Quintana (Denver, Colo./Littleton) who reached on a fielder's choice driving in two runs.  Cory Hudson (Beltsville, Md./Gonzaga) then brought the third home on another FC as the Cards took a 3-1 lead.

A quick defensive half inning allowed the offense to go right back to work in the fifth as Goodman drove in a run moving the lead to three.  The Cards scored one more in the seventh and clung to the four-run lead as the Eagles came back with two of their own.  Despite Juniata's momentum, CUA managed to hold them with two three-batter innings to gain the 5-3 victory and move on to the championship.

Bowles led the Cards going 2-3 with two runs scored, Goodman was 2-4 with a run and an RBI and Quintana was also 2-4 with a pair of runs batted in.  The Cardinals out hit the Eagles 10-8, and committed two errors to their three.  Jordan Clark (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore) took the win on the mound pitching a bulk of the game with three strikeouts, Michael Bzozowski (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) was awarded the save.

The Cardinals will face the winner of Juniata/Scranton on Sunday in the championship game at noon.  The Juniata/Scranton game was called due to rain with Scranton leading 7-2.  It will pick up at 9 a.m., on Sunday with the winner facing the Cardinals.