MADISON, N.J. - Catholic University baseball senior Billy Duke totaled three hits and three runs as the Cardinals opened their 2021 season on road Saturday with a 3-2 and 7-1 victory over Drew.

Catholic (2-0, 2-0 LC) have won four of the last five against the Rangers at Doc Young Field.

Led by wins from sophomore Tucker Alch and junior Jack Zaffiro, the Cardinals limited Drew to just three runs on six hits over 14 innings.

With two wins on Saturday, head coach Ross Natoli now has 699 for his career in 36 seasons at Catholic. He ranks 43rd all-time in Division III history and has won a Landmark Conference record 309 games since joining the league in 2008.

Game 1: Catholic 3, Drew 2

Duke got things started in the top of the second with a solo home run to right field to give Catholic a 1-0 lead. The Rangers tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the third.

However, the Cardinals went back in front on the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by senior Tyler Shaffer that scored Matt Tesoriero. Tesoriero led of the inning with a walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch.

Senior Michael Doody provided what proved to be the game-winning run with a solo home run to left with one out in the top of the fifth. It was his fourth career home run and first since Apr. 24, 2019.

Drew (0-2, 0-2 LC) cut the lead to one on a balk in the sixth, but stranded the tying run in scoring position when senior Ethan Risse earned his fifth career save on a strikeout with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Alch earned his fourth career win in his fourth career start, striking out four and allowing just one run on one hit over 5.0 innings.

Duke, Doody, Tesoriero and junior Peter Giombetti each had one of Catholic's four hits while Doody also drew two walks.

Game 2: Catholic 7, Drew 1

Zaffiro continued the strong pitching in game two as he picked up his first career win after allowing just one run on two hits and striking out five over 4.0 innings.

Junior Skylar McLean pitched a scoreless fifth before freshman Cormac Terry earned his first career save in his first career appearance, facing the minimum over the final two innings and striking out three.

Offensively, sophomore Ben Nardi led off the game with his first career home run on a solo shot to left before Duke scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the second.

The Rangers got on the board in the fifth to cut their deficit to 3-1 before the Cardinals plated another run in the sixth and three more in the seventh.

Doody went 2-for-4 with one RBI while Duke was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Catholic and Drew conclude their four-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader at Talbot Field. First pitch is at 12:30 p.m.

With fans not allowed at any Catholic Athletics home event due to Landmark Conference policy, fans can watch the game live on the Landmark Digital Network.