WASHINGTON, D.C.  — The Catholic baseball team closed out the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational on Sunday afternoon with a matchup against Stevens. In a game where momentum shifted frequently, the Cardinals came up with some key at-bats in the final two innings, including a Mitchel Johnson walk off sac fly in the ninth inning, to close out a 5-4 victory for the first win of the season. 

After both pitchers got through the first trip through the lineup unscathed, the Cardinals offense broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning to take their first lead. Two walks and a Joe Marini single loaded up the bases with nobody out in the inning for Sammy Burman. Burman flew a ball into center field that required a diving catch from the Ducks and a delay to get the ball back into the infield allowed both Marini and Zach Burton to score and make it 2-0.

It took Stevens a couple of innings to answer back but they did so in the top of the sixth to pull back even at two. A pair of two out singles from Jack Reichlin and Frank Tonina both came up with two out singles to bring around the runners. Mac Meara came in relief and delivered a one-pitch ground out to retire the side with two runners on in the inning.

The Ducks grabbed their first lead of the ballgame with two away in the top of the eighth inning after an RBI double from Evan Pravato down the right field line brought in Dylan Fishbough to take a 3-2 lead. The Cardinals would not trail for too long however, after Johnson drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning. Logan Eilbacher stepped up to the plate and drove a fly ball over the right field fence on a 1-0 count to put Catholic back on top, 4-3. 

Down to the final out, Stevens worked a runner on first and third situation with two away in the inning trying to tie things back up. Chip Krese took off early from second base and drew a balk from the Cardinals to plate the tying run. Joe Mascaro beared down on the mound and struck out Reichlin to strand the go-ahead runner on third base.

With the game on the line, Jack Elwell came in as a pinch-hitter and drew a walk to lead-off the bottom of the ninth inning. Dante Pozzi followed up with a clutch base-hit back up the middle to move Elwell over to third with nobody out. After an intentional walk to Burton. Johnson came up with a key at-bat and lofted a flyball deep into center field for a sac fly to bring in Elwell and clinch the 5-4 victory for Catholic.

Inside the Box Score

• Jesse Lacefield and Pozzi both recorded their first multi-hit games of the season going 2-for-4 and 2-for-5 respectively. Lacefield ripped his first extra-base hit of the season with a double in the seventh.
• Catholic starter Cody Bosak turned in a solid outing, pitching 5.2 innings while only allowing two runs on four hits. He shut out the Ducks for the first five innings of the game.
• Mascaro earned the first victory of his career with two innings in relief and striking out three batters.
• All four of Stevens' runs came with two outs of the inning.

The Cardinals head on the road for the first time this season when they take on York (Pa.) on Wednesday, February 26. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm at Jaquet Field.