WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Catholic baseball team squared off against Elizabethtown in a mid-week Landmark contest on Thursday afternoon, looking to get back in the win column. The Blue Jays collected six runs over a three inning stretch early in the game to build up a lead that they would hold onto throughout the ballgame to capture a 6-2 victory over the Cardinals.

The scoring started in the top of the second inning for the Blue Jays after Nick Fiorini reached base on a hit by pitch with one out. Two batters later, Jake Ruple hit a two-run shot to left field to put Elizabethtown up 2-0. The Cardinals had a chance to respond after the first two hitters in the inning got on base, but the Blue Jays sat down the next three batters to keep Catholic off the board.

In the top of the third, Elizabethtown tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly into right field with Ruple picking up his third RBI of the game. In the next inning, the Blue Jays loaded the bases with nobody out and cashed in on the opportunity with a pair of sac flies and an RBI single to right center field to extend the lead out to 6-0.

Catholic cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth after Michael Napolitano reached base on an error and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Matt Perlin came through with a two-out RBI single back up the middle to plate Napolitano and make it a 6-1 game. 

Will Hanson entered the game in relief for the Cardinals and held the Blue Jays lineup in check, working through 2.1 innings without allowing a run to keep Catholic in the game. Catholic had an opportunity to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the seventh as three walks loaded the bases and a fourth one drawn by Jack Bateman notched him an RBI to make the score 6-2. The tying run was brought to the plate with the next batter but Pete Omiridis picked up a strikeout to keep the lead at four for Elizabethtown. 

Catholic was able to spark a rally in either of the final two innings and dropped the game 6-2. The loss moved the Cardinals to 10-6 on the season and 1-3 in Landmark play to open the conference slate.

Inside the Box Score

• Hanson and Jack Scholz were stellar out of the bullpen for Catholic, combining to hold Elizabethtown to zero runs and four hits through the final 5.1 innings of action. They also combined for six strikeouts with four going to Hanson and two for Scholz. 
• Chase Falcon worked his way on-base four times for the Cardinals with three walks and a single. It is the second time this season he has reached base four times and the three walks were a career high.
• In total, the Blue Jays' pitching staff kept 14 base runners stranded in the game and held the Cardinals to 4-for-22 with runners on base.

Catholic returns to the diamond on Saturday, March 21 for a conference doubleheader against Lycoming. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12 pm at Talbot Field.