ASHLAND, Va.  — The Catholic baseball team went on the road for the first time in the 2025 season to take on another opponent who made it to the D3 World Series last season in Randolph-Macon. Despite taking an early lead, the Cardinals were unable to close things down in the later innings and the Yellow Jackets came away with an 11-8 victory.

After two scoreless innings, Catholic jumped on the scoreboard for three runs in the top of the third inning after a pair of walks brought Mitchel Johnson to the plate with two on and two out. Johnson ripped a pitch out over the left field fence for a three run homer to put the Cardinals ahead 3-0. It was the 16th home run of Johnson's career.

Errors from both teams allowed runs to come in over the next few innings, including Sammy Burman scoring on one in the top of the fifth to put the Cardinals on top 5-1. Randolph-Macon was able to push across two runs in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. Jack Bowles followed up that at bat with a sac fly into left field to pull the Yellow Jackets within two. 

Randolph-Macon stormed ahead for the first time in the game in the bottom of the sixth inning after a walk and a single set up an at-bat for Chaz Harvey with one out. Harvey smacked a home run over the left field fence for a three-run shot that put the Yellow Jackets on top, 6-5. 

After the Yellow Jackets tacked on three more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals fought their way back into the game in the top of the eighth to pull back within two. Steve Thomas sparked the inning with a one-out double to right center, followed by a Dante Pozzi walk to put two on for Zach Burton. Burton cashed in with a two RBI double to left center field to make it a 9-7 ballgame. Catholic brought the go ahead run to the plate with two outs but got caught stealing to put an end to the inning. 

The Yellow Jackets tacked on two runs in the bottom of the eighth to go back up by four and despite an RBI double from Thomas in the top of the ninth, the Cardinals were unable to rally back and fell to Randolph-Macon, 11-8.

Inside the Box Score

• Thomas and Johnson were the two Cardinals to record multiple hits in the loss with three and two respectively. Johnson became the first Cardinal this season to drive in three runs in a game.
• Two Yellow Jackets picked up three RBI in Harvey and Jordan Hill and Hill hit the first homer of his collegiate career in the eighth inning.
• Both teams struggled with free passes as there were a total of 16 walks between the two pitching staffs.

The Cardinals will be back at Nats Academy for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 1 against RPI. First pitch is slated for 12 pm for game one.