WASHINGTON, D.C. — Junior Tucker Alch pitched a gem as Catholic split its season-opening series with Cabrini at Talbot Field on Saturday. Sophomore Ben Nardi started both games in right field and registered three total hits on the day.

After winning the first, the Cardinals dropped the second game of the double header despite striking out 18 batters and only allowing five hits. 

Game 1: Catholic 6, Cabrini 1

Alch picked up where he left off last season, pitching a complete game, fanning 11 batters and walking none en route to a season opening victory for Catholic. The Cardinals' ace only allowed six hits and one run, which was unearned. 

Alch faced minor trouble in the top of the second inning, when Cabrini managed to put two runners on base with one out. With runners on first and second, graduate student Tighe Watson made a great play, charging and fielding a grounder to throw the runner out at first. Then, with two outs and two runners in scoring position, Alch struck out Earl Kochel on a 2-2 pitch to preserve the shutout. 

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when graduate student Billy Duke singled on an 0-2 count, driving in graduate student Michael Doody. 

Catholic added two in the fifth and three in the sixth, when sophomore Jesse Lacefield hit his first career home run.

Alch pitched out of another jam in the bottom of the fifth, when Carbini loaded the bases with two outs. The junior struck out the Cavaliers' clean up hitter, Steven Priest, looking on three pitches.

Alch improves to 1-0 on the season while Jonathan Baker falls to 0-1. Lacefield led the Cardinals at the plate with two hits in three at-bats, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Game 2: Carbini 7, Catholic 2

Senior Jack Zaffiro started for Catholic in the second game of the double header, pitching four innings. He struck out nine while allowing four runs on three hits. 

Carbini's starting pitcher Mack McKisson was effective in four innings, only allowing two hits and one run, striking out seven.

Nardi was the only Cardinal to post a multi-hit game, singling twice. Senior Matt Tesoriero, senior Peter Giombetti and freshman Justin McCarthy all added one hit. 

Freshman Camden Mounts was brilliant in his collegiate debut, pitching one clean inning in relief while striking out two. 

Carbini's Pat Toal was excellent in relief, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing no hits, no walks and no runs while striking out five. He entered the game in the sixth, with two runners in scoring position and one out, striking out the next two batters to get out of the inning. The only blemishes on his effort were an error by the center fielder and a dropped third strike that allowed a runner to reach base.

McKisson picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the season while Zaffiro falls to 0-1. Toal also earned the save, his first of the season.

Catholic emerge from the double header with a 1-1 record, and now turn its attention to Stevenson. The Cardinals welcome the Mustangs to Talbot Field on Wednesday for a single game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.