SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Catholic University baseball team took another two wins (11-6, 9-2) from Susquehanna University on Sunday at Bollinger Field to mark the first sweep against the River Hawks since April 21, 2013. It is also the second time this year that the Cardinals posted a four-game sweep after opening the season with four-straight wins against Drew.

Game 1: Catholic 11, Susquehanna 6: 

Five Cardinals scattered eight hits over the course of nine innings in game one for 11 runs scored. Senior Chris Kelly (2-1) took the win from the mound where he threw 5.0 innings and allowed three runs to score off seven hits, striking out four batters. 

The Cardinals took advantage of four defensive errors committed by the River Hawks to reach first or advance on the basepaths.

Catholic got on the board first after sophomore Ben Nardi drew a walk and then advanced to second after senior Tighe Watson reached on a fielder's choice. An error after senior Nolan Lundholm put the ball in play allowed Nardi to score for Catholic's first run. Senior Billy Duke's single followed by a wild pitch advanced Lundholm to round two bags and cross the plate for Catholic's 2-0 lead in the top of the first. 

Susquehanna responded with two runs of their own to even the score to 2-2 heading into the top of the second. The score remained tied until the top of the fourth where the Cardinals pulled ahead by three runs. Junior Peter Giombetti led off with a double down the left field line followed by a single from Duke which advanced Giombetti to third. Junior Matt Tesoriero knocked Giombetti in with an RBI-double to left center. Junior Conor Casey continued the rally with a double and scored Tesoriero and Duke, making it a 5-2 game. 

Over the next four innings, Catholic drove in six more runs including a solo home run by Nardi, his sixth bomb of the season. The Cardinals' five remaining runs all came in the eighth inning off only two hits. Tesoriero, Casey, Watson, Nardi and sophomore Derek Zelesnick all knocked in runs to lengthen Catholic's lead to 11-3. 

The River Hawks came back for three more runs scored in the eighth and ninth innings but it was not enough to catch up to the Cardinals' massive lead. The birds took game one, 11-6. 

Freshman Ryan O'Keefe and junior Skylar McLean both saw time on the mound where they threw 3.0 innings and 1.0 innings, respectively. O'Keefe recorded three strikeouts while McLean sat down one in the close. 

Game 2: Catholic 9, Susquehanna 2:

Reminiscent of game one, Catholic scored first and early and capitalized on Susquehanna's seven defensive errors. Tesoriero got on base with a single and advanced to second after Lundholm walked. Both players stole to put themselves in scoring position as Giombetti reached on an error to score Tesoriero. Lundholm crossed the plate after a wild pitch which gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. 

Susquehanna attempted to chip away at the deficit after scoring a run in the bottom of the third but the Cardinals were able to double their runs in the top of the fourth. A fielding error allowed Watson to reach first, followed by a walk by Casey. Both runners advanced to third and second on a wild pitch which gave sophomore Zach Burton the opportunity to knock in a two-RBI single up the middle for a 4-1 score. 

Another two Cardinal hits and two errors by the River Hawks brought in three runs in the top of the fifth. Duke doubled to drive in Lundholm, followed by Watson's single which scored Duke and senior Nicholas Torroella. The Cardinals led 7-1. 

Susquehanna's second and final run came in the bottom of the fifth for a 7-2 score. Catholic lengthened its lead by two more runs in the top of the seventh after senior Kendric Musser's single knocked in Torroella and senior Tyler Shaffer finished the game with a single to right center to score Duke. 

Junior Jack Zaffiro claimed game two's win from the mound with 4.0 innings pitched, three strikeouts and one allowed hit. Senior Ethan Risse threw 1.1 innings while Tesoriero closed in 1.2 innings pitched with three strikeouts.

Catholic (13-9, 13-9 LC) will take on Moravian away next Saturday, May 8 for the final regular-season doubleheader of 2021. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.