WASHINGTON, D.C. - Catholic's late-inning rally fell just short as its four-game winning streak came to a close on Monday afternoon. RPI picked up a 4-2 win to improve to 2-0 while Catholic drops to 4-2 on the young season.
RPI scored four runs in the first three-plus innings against Catholic starter Jake Kenney, forcing him from the game in the top of the fourth.
The Engineers opened up the game in a big way with Aiden Hicks slamming the second pitch of the game off the scoreboard in left-center for a solo blast. Joe Marini and Zach Burton drew one-out walks in the bottom of the inning, but the Cardinals couldn't scratch one across.
Matt Chotiner drew a lead-off walk for RPI in the second and moved into scoring position on another free pass, this one to Jon Primerano. Kenney struck out Owen Burnsworth for the second out of the inning, but Hicks singled through the left side to make it a 2-0 game.
Kenney pitched a one-two-three third, striking out a pair to keep the deficit at two, but RPI starter Alex Vallee induced a double play ball. Marini added a two-out single before Mitchel Johnson put a charge into the ball, but it fell just short of the warning track.
Kenney came out for the fourth but allowed two hits and two walks before giving way to Roman Tozzi. Tozzi unleashed a wild pitch to bring the fourth run home but ultimately worked his way out of the jam.
Catholic's next best offensive chance came in the fifth as Michael Napolitano laced his second single of the game to open things up. He was replaced by Jack Elwell as the pinch runner who moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Derek Zelesnick. Burton drew a walk as did Lance Eilbacher to load the bases, but Johnson once again hit the ball hard, but right to center field to end the inning.
Catholic brought a run home in the bottom of the eighth inning as Eilbacher drew a lead-off walk and came around to score the first run for Catholic on a wild pitch. Steve Thomas moved Eilbacher up to third with a single through the right side before the wild pitch. With runners on first and second with one out, Jesse Lacefield hit one sharply, but it was caught by third baseman Owen Burnsworth and Thomas was doubled up at second.
Sam Fairhurst pitched two strong innings in the eighth and ninth, keeping the Cardinals within striking distance. In the bottom of the ninth, RPI brought in Cooper Hay to close things out. After striking out
Logan Eilbacher, Hay allowed a single to Zelesnick and a wild pitch allowed him to move up to second base.
Dante Pozzi singled down the left field line, scoring Zelesnick to bring the tying run to the plate. Burton was hit by a 3-0 pitch, but
Lance Eilbacher bounced a grounder to third and Pozzi was wiped off the bases. Johnson drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but Hay struck out
Steve Thomas to end the game.
Pozzi and Napolitano each had two hits for Catholic as the team totaled seven hits and eight walks, but could only muster the two runs Burton and Eilbacher each drew two walks while Burton reached three times with the hit by pitch. Tozzi tossed 4.0 hitless innings, striking out five while Fairhurst allowed just one hit and struck out four.
Catholic's previously scheduled game for Wednesday versus Arcadia has been postponed due to impending weather. The Cardinals will open up their Ripken Experience trip on Saturday with a DH vs. Johnson & Wales.
