MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Catholic University baseball team opened its 2020 spring break trip at the Ripken Experience on Saturday morning with an 8-3 win over New England College.

NEC, defending champions of the New England Collegiate Conference, went 29-18 a year ago, losing to UMass Boston in the NCAA Division III Super Regional.

The Cardinals (6-5) jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the first inning to take control. A couple hits, including an RBI-single from freshman Ben Nardi, and a couple errors aided Catholic to take the 4-0 advantage.

After the Pilgrims (5-3) responded with two runs in the second to cut the lead in half, the Cards added another run in the third. Nardi delivered again with his second triple of the season, driving in senior Christian Jones to put Catholic up 5-2.

Catholic added to its lead in the sixth with a two-run homerun from junior Tighe Watson. Nardi walked to start the inning, and then Watson drove it out of the park for his first career homer to put Catholic up 7-3.

An RBI-double from senior Cid Porter extended the advantage to 8-3 in the eighth, helping the team secure its sixth win of the year.

Freshman Tucker Alch impressed again on the mound with his longest outing of the year, giving up three runs in eight innings. The Houston, Texas native scattered seven hits and struck out six batters in 89 pitches thrown for his third win of the season. Fellow Texas native Nolan Lundholm closed out the game, striking out two.

The Cardinals continue their spring break trip Sunday with a game against Penn State Berks. First pitch is at noon.