WASHINGTON- The Catholic University of America baseball team dropped its midweek contest, 7-2, to nationally ranked No. 16 Frostburg State University on Tuesday afternoon.

The nationally ranked Bobcats got off to a quick start with a run in the first inning. The Cardinals answered, tying the game, with a run in the bottom of the third.

With one out junior Wyatt Schmidt reached first on a single to right field. Schmidt advanced when freshman Ryan Tracy hit a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher and came across the plate when senior John Palladino reached second on a throwing error by the Bobcats third baseman.

The Bobcats answered with a run in the top of the next inning and brought another across the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings. Ahead 4-1 with just an inning to play No. 16 Frostburg State drove three more runners home in the top of the ninth to secure its victory.

In an attempt to come back and close the gap, Catholic entered a stream of pinch hitters in the bottom of the ninth. With one out recorded, sophomore Brennan Cotter cracked a double into left field. Senior Mike Iglesia was walked next, followed by senior Kevin Nader who drove in Cotter with a single to center field. The Bobcats retired the next two batters for the 7-2 win. 

Six Cardinals threw from the rubber in the nine-inning contest and were only charged with one earned run, collectively. Freshman Mason Belcher threw four strikeouts in five innings before senior Luc Sebrechts entered for relief.

With the bases loaded and no outs senior Josh Martin came to the mound to get the Cards out of a bind. Martin faced four batters, the first reached on a Catholic fielding error before he retired the next three in a row.

Additionally, senior Jonah Jimenez, and juniors Joseph Prego and Christopher Hutton each pitched an inning.

The Cardinals head to Scranton, Pa., to finish out their three-game Landmark Conference series against the Royals of the University of Scranton, Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.