WASHINGTON - The Catholic University of America topped Susquehanna University 7-3 in the opening game of a three-game Landmark Conference series Friday night.

Jack Hennessey started on the rubber for the Cardinals and earned his third win of the season. Hennessey pitched six innings and tossed two strike outs. Mark Duffy entered the game to pitch the seventh inning and Joseph Salzano took the mound for the last two innings and earned his sixth save of the season.

Thien-Quoc Tran made his first start of the season and went three for four from the plate with a double in the second inning and a 2-RBI single in the sixth.

While trailing the Crusaders 2-0, Andrew Stewart put the Cards on the board with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth Daniel Hinchcliff was hit by the pitch to score Stefan Poggioli for a 3-2 lead. Eric Scammerdella followed with a sacrifice fly to score Tran for the Cards fourth run of the night.

Tran's two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to advance CUA to 6-3 and the Cards notch one more in the seventh off and RBI-single from Paul Burmester.

The Cardinals continue the conference battle against the Crusaders at Robert J. Talbot Field at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.