WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning, Catholic baseball rallied to defeat Western New England, 5-3, on day two of the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational. The Cardinals improved to 1-1 on the season with the victory. 

Trailing 3-2 heading into the seventh inning stretch, Catholic rallied, scoring three runs off Western New England reliever Cam Heeman to take a 5-3 advantage that Brendan Martin would hold across the final two innings. 

Justin McCarthy was hit by a pitch to open the inning, followed by a Zach Burton single to send the tying run 90 feet from home. Joe Marini tied the contest at 3-3 with a sacrifice fly, scoring McCarthy on a fly ball to center. The program's single-season leader in doubles, Mitchel Johnson, laced a double to left center, putting two runners in scoring position for Dante Pozzi who moved up into the cleanup spot after two hits on opening day. Pozzi came through, sending the ball back up the middle to score two runs and put Catholic ahead 5-3. 

In the eighth inning with a two-run lead, Martin entered the game to replace Roman Tozzi. Martin allowed a single to Aaron Cole with a runner on first. Kohtaro Shimada advanced to third, forcing a throw from Marini. The throw went past third base and into shallow left, but Johnson was backing up and gunned Shimada at the plate for the final out of the inning. 

Western New England made it interesting again in the ninth, but another would-be run scorer was thrown out at the plate, this time by Marini. Finally, Sean Jamieson hit into a double play closing things out in favor of Catholic. 

Pozzi and Marini each drove in two runs for Catholic while Burton had a multi-hit day to bring him closer to 100 career hits. Steve Thomas drew two walks for the Cardinals after reaching base three times on Friday. 

Tozzi earned the win in his Catholic debut. pitching 1.1 scoreless innings in relief. Eddie Kaftan (3.2 innings, 2 runs) and Sam Fairhurst (2.0 innings, 1 run) also made their Catholic debuts on the bump. 

Catholic will take on Stockton on day three of the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.