WASHINGTON, D.C. — Clutch hitting saw the Cardinals take two games from their conference rivals on Saturday at Talbot Field.

GAME ONE - Catholic 10-7 Scranton

No. 11 Catholic's home heroics continued on Saturday afternoon at Talbot Field as the Cardinals took game one from Scranton. A three-run walk-off homer off the bat of sophomore Lucas Malave was the difference, powering Catholic to a 10-7 win. The Cardinals trailed by four runs entering the bottom of the seventh inning but used a four-run frame to tie the game at 7-7 before winning it in the bottom of the ninth. 

Scranton's Jason Carpenter retired Dante Pozzi and Joe Marini to start the ninth, but Ben Nardi opened the door with a two-out single to right field. Mitchel Johnson reached on a hard-hit ball that was mishandled by Scranton third baseman Jake Elston, bringing up Malave with two on. Malave was just what the doctor ordered for the Cardinals as he blasted a three-run moonshot off the lefty to secure a game-one win and give Catholic its fifth walk-off victory of the season. 

The Cardinals took an early lead after plating three runs in the second inning, but Scranton put up a six-run fifth to swing the game back the other way. In the third, Johnson led off with a single through the left side followed by a Malave walk. Zach Burton singled to right center on a check swing to load up the bases for Matthew Fisher. Fisher then singled past the third base bag to score two runs for Catholic. Derek Zelesnick reached on a bunt single to load the bases again before Pozzi drove in the third run with a sacrafic fly to center. 

Danny Fitzgerald cruised through 4.0 scoreless innings before Scranton opened things up a bit in the fifth. Dan Crossan pinch-hit with the bases loaded for Scranton and drove in two runs with a looper off the end of the bat through the right side to make it 3-2. Fitzgerald retired the next batter but hit Nick Reposa and Ross Natoli elected to go to the bullpen for Chance Legere. Legere brought in two runs for the Royals with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, putting Scranton ahead 4-3. Cormac Terry entered for Catholic and allowed a two-run single to John Zarnowski, but stopped any further damage.

Zarnowski drove in another run in the seventh to put the Royals ahead 7-3, but Catholic answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs. Johnny Flannigan started the inning for Scranton, retiring Zelesnick before issuing a one-out walk to McCarthy. Flannigan got Pozzi to fly out, but Marini singled with two outs and Scranton went back to the bullpen for Ryan Heiser. Nardi singled up the middle to score McCarthy and make it 7-4 before Johnson crushed a towering home run to left field, just sneaking inside the foul pole to tie the game at 7-7. 

Brendan Martin pitched a scoreless ninth for Catholic, earning the win to improve to 4-0 on the season. Martin has allowed just one earned run in 12.2 innings pitched in 2023. Terry was solid out of the bullpen, tossing 3.1 innings, striking out five and allowing just one earned run. 

Malave's home run was his seventh of the season, putting him in a tie with Nardi and Marini for the team lead. With three RBIs, Johnson took over the team lead with 27, as he is one of four Cardinals with 23 or more runs batted in. 

Game Two - Catholic 11-7 Scranton

It was more of the same for Catholic in game two as late, clutch hitting pushed the Cardinals to 20-3 on the season.

Ross Natoli's team trailed 4-2 after four innings and 7-5 midway through the sixth but used an explosive bottom of the eight to claim, at worst, a series victory over the Royals.

After a two-out, pinch-hit single from Michael Napolitano brought Catholic level in the bottom of the seventh, it was Malave who delivered in a big moment again.

Patient hitting saw Catholic load the bases as two walks bookended a Cardinal hit-by-pitch to lead off the inning. With the bases juiced, the sophomore took a more traditional "small-ball" approach this time, knocking in the go-ahead run with an RBI groundout. Then, Burton did his best Malave impression, blasting a three-run bomb of his own to left field to open up gap.

Camden Mounts and Cody Bosak combined to carry the load on the mound, allowing Catholic to use just two pitchers. Mounts started and went 4.0 innings, fanning four while allowing four earned runs. Bosak produced a gem of a performance in relief, striking out nine batters in 5.0 innings of work. He did not allow an earned run.

Marini, Burton and Fisher all registered multi-hit games while Marini was especially effective. The sophomore went 2-for-3 with two walks, three runs scored and two stolen bases.

With the victory, Catholic remains perfect in Landmark Conference play and has now won five games in a row for the fourth time this season. The Cardinals will travel to Scranton on Monday in an attempt to secure a sweep of the Royals.