Box Score
WINCHESTER, Va. - The Catholic University baseball team scored four runs in the fourth to key a 7-1 victory over Stevens in the Winchester Regional of the Division III Baseball Championship Friday.
The Cardinals (30-11) picked up their first NCAA tournament victory since May 18, 2011 when they defeated top-seeded Kean, 3-2, in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. Catholic also earned its 30th win of the season, its second 30-win season in the last three full seasons.
Junior Tucker Alch, the Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Year, totaled his third complete game this season and first nine-inning outing. It was also his fifth start out of 13 this season in which he allowed one run or less. He threw 120 pitches and scattered seven hits, striking out 10 and issuing just one walk.
In doing so, Alch set the Landmark Conference single season records in wins (10), innings (85.0) and strikeouts (112).
Offensively, the Cardinals scored all the runs they would need with four in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Matt Tesoriero drove in the game's first run with an RBI-single to center that scored junior Zach Burton before senior Tommy Antonucci drew a two-out, bases loaded walk to score Tesoriero for what proved to be the game-winning run.
Leading 2-0, Catholic added two more runs on an error by the Ducks that allowed freshmen Matthew Fisher and Lucas Malave to score, unearned.
Prior to the fourth, Stevens starter Justin Doyle had faced just one batter over the minimum, recording three of nine outs via strikeout.
The Ducks (29-15) got on the board with a run in the top of the sixth when Christian Kreiser led off with a double to center and later scored on a wild pitch.
Freshman Dante Pozzi hit a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the inning to increase he Cardinals' lead to 6-1 while extending his on-base streak to 35 games. The Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Pozzi then scored the game's final run a double down the right field line by junior Ben Nardi.
Tesoriero also went 2-for-5, finished with one RBI and one run.
Catholic returns to action on Saturday when it takes on host Shenandoah beginning at 2:30 p.m. from Bridgeforth Field. The Hornets defeated St. Joseph's (L.I.) in Friday's first game, 10-3.
