WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Catholic baseball team was back at Talbot Field on Wednesday afternoon trying to pick up another victory early in the season in the first mid-week game of the year against York (Pa.). The bats were cooking for the Cardinals throughout the ballgame, especially for Sammy Burman, who completed the cycle in just four at-bats over the course of the first five innings, to highlight an 11-8 win for Catholic.  

The Spartans opened the game up with a bang on offense, plating five in the top of the first with four coming off a grand slam to take the momentum early in the contest. The Cardinals put together a rally of their own in the bottom of the second that was sparked by a lead-off double from Matthew Fisher and a walk from Chris Esquivel to put two on with two outs for Burman. Burman proceeded to smoke a two-run opposite field shot to left field to cut the deficit down to two for Catholic at 5-3. 

After three runs came across the dish for York in the top of the third inning, Catholic's offense once again came up with a response, bringing in two runs to make it an 8-5 ballgame. Gabriel Ruiz got on-base with an infield single and was immediately driven in by Lance Eilbacher when he belted his second home run of the season to left center field. 

Burman's tear on Spartan pitching continued in the bottom of the fourth after Esquivel's lead-off walk as he once again belted a ball that was deflected off the left center field wall for an RBI triple, leaving him just a double shy of the cycle. Logan Eilbacher went on to bring Burman in on the next at-bat with a ground ball to second to pull the Cardinals back within one at 8-7.

Logan Potter entered the game on the mound in the top of the fourth inning and immediately steadied the ship for Catholic on the mound, retiring the first six batters he faced, including a pair of strikeouts. This set up an opportunity for the Cardinals to take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth when Fisher once again started the inning with a double to left center field. Jack Bateman then stepped up to the plate and launched a two-run shot to left field to put Catholic on top 9-8. Burman completed his special day at the plate later in the inning when he roped a double up the alley in left center field to bring in a run and finish the cycle. 

The bullpen continued to mow down York during the latter half of the action but it did have a bases loaded no-one out situation to potentially climb back in front in the top of the eighth. Will Hanson came into the game in relief and punched out three consecutive hitters for the Cardinals to keep the three run advantage intact heading into the ninth frame.

Jack Scholz was called on to try and lock things down in the top of the ninth inning and the sophomore rolled a game-ending double play to capture an 11-8 victory for Catholic. The Cardinals improved to 3-1 on the young season with the win.

Inside the Box Score

• Burman's four-hit effort was the first such game for a Catholic player this season. He became the first player in the Landmark era (2008-pres.) to hit for the cycle for the program. Burman also matched his career-high with five RBIs to lead the team.
• The bullpen was lights out for the Cardinals to help them lock down the victory, shutting out the Spartans over the final six innings. Potter, Brennan O'Keefe, Hanson and Scholz all contributed to striking out nine batters over the final six innings while only allowing one hit between them. Potter picked up his first collegiate win in just his second career outing. 
• Offensively, seven of the Cardinals 11 total hits for the game went for extra-bases with Burman, Fisher and Bateman all recording multiple hits.

Catholic is back in action on Saturday, February 28 for a doubleheader showdown against RPI. First pitch for game one is set for 3 pm at Talbot Field.