WASHINGTON - The Catholic University of America men's baseball team hosted the Rangers of Drew University at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals split the day with the Rangers taking the first game 3-0 and lost a hard fought battle in game two, 6-4.

Junior pitcher Jon Mierzwa took the win for game one after recording a season-high eleven strikeouts in six innings. Classmate Collin Brown sealed the deal for the Cardinals after he threw a scoreless seventh inning.

Catholic's offense was boosted by a two-RBI homerun from senior Jake Crist in the in the fifth inning. Fellow senior Jack Hennessy gave the Cardinals their first run of the event run when he singled up the middle in the third to score freshman Michael Doody.

Senior standout Brennan Cotter led the Cardinals with all four RBIs in game two as he collected two hits including a first pitch, three-run homer in the fifth inning. Fellow senior Danny O'Hagan went 2-4 at the plate in game two. Hennessey laid down two sacrifice bunts during the doubleheader.

On the mound in the second game, junior Mason Belcher struck out seven in five innings before sophomore Eric Moore and senior Sean Carroll came in for relief. Sophomore Jack Ropelewski was charged with the loss after giving up two runs of the Rangers five eighth-inning runs.  His classmate Nolan Lundholm pitched a solid ninth inning with two Ks.

Catholic will finish the series tomorrow when they face Drew for game three at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. First pitch will be at 12:00 p.m.

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