HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The 22nd-ranked Catholic baseball team clinched the number two seed in next weekend's Landmark Conference Championships with a doubleheader split at Juniata this afternoon. Catholic sits at 25-9 on the season with just tomorrow's Landmark Conference regular-season finale remaining.

GAME ONE - Juniata 12, Catholic 11

The Cardinals dropped game one in shocking fashion after taking a 10-run advantage into the bottom of the seventh inning. The Eagles scored all 12 of their runs in the final three innings, including a nine-run eighth to tie the contest at 10-10. The Cardinals took an 11-10 lead in the top of the ninth, but Juniata answered with two runs in the bottom to walk it off. 

Senior outfielder Ben Nardi blasted two home runs to tie the Landmark Conference's all-time home run record previously held solo by Isaac Maclay of Juniata. Nardi reached the mark of 29 homers in 33 fewer games than Maclay. 

Catholic ace Tucker Alch tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, striking out 10 to put Catholic in a prime position. Alch exited the contest with Catholic leading 9-0. 

The Cardinals ripped 15 hits and drew six walks at the plate while Juniata had 13 hits and drew six walks. 

Catholic scored five in the first as Nardi struck first with a two-run shot to give him 28 career home runs after Joe Marini led the game off with a single. Mitchel Johnson and Dante Pozzi both reached base before Juniata retired the first batter of the contest. However, Zach Burton poked a one-out single up the middle to put Catholic ahead by three before freshman catcher Michael Napolitano ripped a two-run triple to push the lead to 5-0. 

The Cards plated four more runs in the fourth inning, starting the scoring with a two-run single from Marini, scoring Justin McCarthy and Derek Zelesnick. Nardi followed with his second homer of the day to give Catholic a 9-0 lead and tie the Landmark Conference record. 

Lucas Malave drove in Nardi in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 10-0 after Nardi reached on a leadoff walk. 

Juniata got on the board in the bottom of the seventh, getting a sacrifice fly from Caden Collins after a Charlie Bakken double. 

Things went awry in the bottom of the eighth as the Cardinals allowed nine runs on six hits across four pitchers, allowing Juniata to tie the contest at 10-10 with a David Beard RBI single. 

In the ninth inning, Mark Villanueva hit a two-out double before scoring on a Jack Elwell RBI single through the right side to put the Cardinals ahead 11-10. After retiring the first batter, Brendan Martin allowed a single to Bakken before Collins tied the game with an RBI triple. Corey Daniels singled to the infield to score the winning run. 

GAME TWO - Catholic 12, Juniata 4

In game two, Marini, Burton, Johnson, and Zelesnick each had a three-hit day, combining for 12 of the team's 15 hits while driving in six of the runs. Johnson cracked three doubles to increase his team lead, driving in four runs in the process. Pozzi and Steve Thomas each had a pair of RBIs for Catholic. Camden Mounts picked up the win, striking out 12 while allowing just one run in 5.0 innings. 

The Cardinals led 6-1 after six innings before the Eagles put up a three-spot against Catholic reliever Cody Bosak in the bottom of the seventh to tighten the gap to two runs. Catholic responded with three runs in each of the eighth and ninth innings to close out the win. 

Johnson and Pozzi hit back-to-back first-inning doubles to get Catholic on the scoreboard while Juniata pushed one across in the second to tie things up with a Beard RBI single. Mounts wouldn't allow another run over his final three frames. 

Catholic added two runs in the fourth, getting RBI singles from Zelesnick and Marini to put Catholic ahead 3-1. The Cardinals would score in each of the middle innings, getting another run in the fifth on an RBI single off the bat of Thomas before posting two more runs in the sixth to make it a 6-1 game. 

Pozzi, Malave, and Thomas each added RBIs in the eighth to give the Cardinals some insurance with a 9-4 lead. Danny Prior pitched a scoreless eighth to set up Catholic for another chance at the plate. 

In the ninth, the Cardinals loaded up the bases and Johnson cleared them with his third double of the game to extend the lead to 12-4. Prior allowed a two-out double in the ninth before closing things out. 

Catholic will complete the regular season tomorrow in the series finale in Huntingdon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.