Box Score WASHINGTON – Battling cold and blustery conditions, CUA downed Randolph-Macon 8-3 on Thursday afternoon at Talbot Field. The Cardinals pounded out 13 hits and scored all of their runs in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th innings to improve to 12-6 in 2013. Charlie Dillon led the way offensively for CUA with three hits and two runs batted in.
Randolph-Macon went in front first with a run in the 2nd, but CUA scored three times in the 3rd to take a lead it would not relinquish.
A Yellow Jackets error allowed the leadoff hitter Pat DeToro to reach and advance to second base. A one-out single by Mark Kalokitis put runners on the corners and Nick Clary followed with a RBI single to tie things at one.
Later in the inning, Marc Hanna drove in the Cards second run with a sac fly, and Dillon added a RBI single of his own to make it 3-1.
CUA added a single run in the 4th when Brendan Breslin drove in DeToro, who had tripled earlier in the frame.
In the top of the 5th, the Yellow Jackets pulled to within 4-3 with two runs, but CUA came right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead back to three.
Hanna walked with one out and moved down to second on a wild pitch, and then advanced to third on Dillon's single. Mike McFarland then brought home Hanna with a sacrifice fly, and Stefan Poggioli drove in Dillon with a single of his own.
CUA then pulled away with two more runs in the 6th. Kalokitis got things going with a single and Clary followed with a single. Chris McCloud then drew a walk to load the bases and Hanna brought in Kalokitis with a sac fly.
The Cardinals then executed a perfect squeeze bunt, with Dillon laying down a beautiful bunt to bring in Clary to make it 8-3.
CUA sent five hurlers to the mound on the day, led by starter Rob Steinkopf, who earned the win after going four innings and allowing one run. Kevin Farley, Kory Smigocki, Josh Martin and Chris Nee closed things out in relief.
Daniel Byrd suffered the loss for the Yellow Jackets, after allowing 10 hits and six runs in 4.2 innings.
CUA returns to action on Saturday when the Cardinals play host to Landmark Conference foe Drew in a doubleheader. Start time from Talbot Field is set for noon.
