Myrtle Beach, S.C. - The Catholic University of America baseball team hit the road for their annual Spring Break trip and opened the 2015 season with a 6-1 victory over Penn State Berks on Sunday, March 8.

Jack Hennessy made his career debut for the Cardinals on the mound and threw 7.2 innings with no earned runs. Hennessy registered four strike outs while giving up just four hits and one walk before Catholic closer Joe Salzano stepped in to pick up the save.

The Cards took an early lead when Mike McFarland, batting eighth, stepped into the batter's box in the top of the second. McFarland sent a line drive to left field for an RBI single, driving Wyatt Schmidt into home plate.

McFarland and the bottom of the line-up came through again in the fourth inning to earn CUA two go-ahead runs. Eric Scamardella, batting sixth in the Cardinal's order, lined a double to center field followed by Schmidt approaching the plate and sending a hard ground ball single to second base. Scamerdella took the opportunity to pass third and coast into home plate while Schmidt out ran the defense to get on first. McFarland followed, with his second RBI single of the afternoon, sending the ball hard on the ground to centerfield to drive in Schmidt for a Cardinal 3-0 lead.

CUA banked their season opening win in the ninth inning bringing in three additional runs. With Schmidt sitting on first, McFarland sent a sacrifice bunt into the infield. He found himself making it to first base after a Nittany Lion fielding error while Schmidt made his way to second. Schmidt and McFarland pulled of a double steal to advance to third and second, respectivly. Hinchliff was pop up a sacrice fly to drive in Schmidt, McFarland was driven in by an RBI double from Brett Padula, and Padula came home on an RBI double from Stefan Poggioli before switching possessions and heading into the bottom of the ninth.

The Nattany Lions were unable to convert any offensive plays in the ninth inning, ending the game 6-1 in favor of the Cardinals.

Schimdt hit four-for-four in the game while McFarland drove in two RBI's to lead the CUA offense.

The Cardinals continued their 2015 Spring Break series with a matchup against the College of Staten Island on Monday, March 9 at 12:00 p.m.