MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Despite a late charge, the No. 13 Cardinals dropped only their second game of the season to Johnson and Wales (R.I.) on Friday evening.

Ross Natoli's men gave it their best effort after trailing 4-0 through five innings. Catholic was able to push a single run across in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning but came up just short in the ninth, stranding a runner on first base as the comeback effort fell just short.

Sophomore Joe Marini blasted two solo home runs from the lead-off spot, doubling his career home run total in just one game. Marini book-ended a Matthew Fisher sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, when Lucas Malave scored after leading off the inning with a single.

Camden Mounts provided a huge spark on the mound, producing three brilliant innings of relief pitching. The left-hander entered the contest with two out in the fifth and promptly came up with a strikeout to end the Wildcat threat and get the Cardinals back in the dugout down four.

Mounts pitched a total of 3.0 innings of no-hit baseball, striking out six opponents.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead when a one-out double gave the team from Rhode Island the lead. A lead-off home run in the third inning doubled Johnson and Wales' lead before the two runs in the fifth chased starting pitcher Jake Kenney.

Catholic has now produced two five-game win streaks have pushed them at 10-2 on the season.

The Cardinals will play one more game in Myrtle Beach before heading back north. Their final contest of the spring break trip will take place tomorrow when Catholic does battle with Bridgewater State. First pitch is set for 9 a.m.