COLUMBIA, Md. - The Catholic University baseball team got its first wins of the season in a sweep against the McDaniel College Green Terror on Saturday at Blandair Park in Columbia, Md. The Cardinals' offense had its best showing of the young season, scoring 23 runs with 26 hits in two contests against McDaniel. 

The Cardinals (2-3) got things started right away with a three-run first inning in game one. Senior Ryan Tracy wasted no time in the leadoff spot and tripled to left center, and then his classmate Bailey Lewis singled for the first run of the series. After a couple walks, sophomore Nicholas Torroella brought in junior Nolan Lundholm with an RBI groundout to put Catholic up 3-0. 

Senior Jon Mierzwa led the team on the mound with six scoreless innings. The pitcher from Laurel, Md. threw 85 pitches in six frames, giving up zero earned runs on just three hits. Sophomore Ethan Risse closed things out in the seventh inning.  

Sean Dempsey was another senior that made a big impact in game one of the doubleheader. Dempsey had two hits, scored a run, and had an RBI in the fourth inning while catching behind the plate for Catholic. He and Tracy singled in the top of the seventh, and then Lewis singled to bring both of them home to extend the lead to 6-2. The Green Terror got one across in the bottom of the inning, but the Cardinals held on to win game one 6-3. 

The Cardinals exploded for 17 runs in a high-scoring affair in game two, defeating McDaniel (0-4) 17-9. Catholic had two five-run innings and used 17 base hits to get its second win of the year. Juniors Connor Sullivan and Will Pyne both had three hits each to lead the team. 

Catholic had six hits in a five-run third inning to blow the game open. Tracy led off with his second triple of the afternoon, then the visitors hit four straight singles. Sophomore Michael Doody, junior Connor Cozad, Sullivan, and Pyne all singled to bring in three runs. After a pitching change, freshman Matt Tesoriero kept the rally going with a double to right field to bring in Sullivan to put the Cardinals up 8-3. 

Junior Ross Dean faced 25 batters in five innings of work, picking up his first win of the season. Dean gave up six earned runs and struck out five in an offensive battle. David Gately, MJ Dziczkowski, Eric Moore, and Nick Marini all came in for an inning of relief each. 

Up next for Catholic is another local opponent in St. Mary's (Md.) on Wednesday, March 6. The Cardinals take on the Seahawks for a midweek contest on the road, first pitch at 2:30 p.m.