MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Catholic University baseball team rallied to knock off Gwynedd Mercy in extra innings on Tuesday at the Ripken Experience, 4-3. 

Freshman Lucas Malave delivered the goods in the bottom of the 10th inning, when he drew a bases-loaded walk to force across the game-winning run. Malave had a strong day at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and drawing two walks, including that which secured the game-winning RBI. 

The Cardinals (5-5) managed to get out of a jam in the top of the first, largely due to graduate student Tyler Shaffer. Despite freshman starter Jake Lynes allowing the first four Griffins to reach base (two walks, two HBPs), Shaffer gunned down two baserunners as they attempted to steal. The catcher also added a third caught stealing and a putout to get the Cardinals out of a jam in the top of the 10th.

Catholic got on the board in the bottom of the first, when junior Zach Burton singled to left field, scoring senior Matt Tesoriero who had reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

Malave led off the Cardinal second with his double, and scored to extend the lead to 2-0 on a one-out single by junior Derek Zelesnick. 

The Griffins responded in the top of the third. With two men on and one out, catcher T.J. Brasier doubled to center field to plate two and tie the game. After a groundout advanced Brasier to third, he scored on a sacrifice fly to give Gwynedd Mercy its first lead of the game at 3-2. 

Catholic put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth to equalize. After a double to left field from freshman Dante Pozzi and a Malave walk, the pair stole second and third respectively on the first pitch of Shaffer's at-bat. Then, with the count at 2-2, Pozzi scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. 

Both bullpens would hold the score at 3-3 until the 10th. The Cardinal duo of senior Skylar McLean and sophomore Chance Legere were brilliant in relief. After entering the game in the second, McClean pitched 4.0 innings, allowing no runs, only two hits and struck out four. Legere held the Griffins to one hit in 3.0 innings of work. 

Junior Brendan Martin delivered a heroic performance on the mound in the top of the 10th, getting the Cardinals out of the ultimate jam. 

After Gwynedd Mercy loaded the bases off of freshman pitcher Lucky Perrotto, Martin entered the game with no outs. A Griffin batter then lined out to Malave in right field, who gunned home to cut down Braiser trying to score the go-ahead run. Then came Shaffer's timely intervention, catching Gwynedd Mercy's Nick Price trying to steal home for the third out of the inning.

After providing the vital outfield assist in the top of the extra inning, Malave walked on the eighth pitch of his at-bat, driving in junior Ben Nardi to win the game. Malave worked the count full then fouled off two pitches before taking the all-important ball four.

Martin earned his first win of the season, while Mitchell Bramsway fell to 1-1 after taking the loss.

Catholic returns to action tomorrow, when it faces Kean University. First pitch is scheduled for noon.