WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Catholic baseball team continued its series at Wilkes on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader at Bruggeworth Field. The Cardinals took game one to secure the series, but fell in a tight contest in game two.

Game One - Catholic 6, Wilkes 2

Wilkes struck first as both teams battled for the series win. Evan Melberger recorded the first hit of the game with a double to left field, putting the Colonels in scoring position. Andres Cruz followed with a double that brought Melberger home. Catholic got out of the inning quickly, limiting further damage.

The Colonels added another run in the bottom of the third. Gavin Lacoe singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nathan Loch. Jack Mathis then singled to extend the Wilkes lead to 2-0.

Catholic responded in the top of the fourth with a home run from Sammy Burman. After battling at the plate, he sent the ball over the right field fence to put the first run on the board.

Both teams held strong defensively over the next three innings, holding the score at 2-1 in favor of the Colonels. The Cardinals broke through in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs on four hits.

Chase Falcon led off with a double to right field. Gabriel Ruiz followed with a triple to score Falcon and even the score at two. Michael Napolitano then singled to the right, bringing Ruiz home and giving Catholic the lead.

Jack Bateman added a single, moving Napolitano to second. With one out, Jack Elwell laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher to advance both runners. Chris Esquivel followed with a sacrifice fly center field, scoring Napolitano and adding an RBI. Wilkes ended the inning, but Catholic had taken a 4-2 lead.

Catholic added two insurance runs in the top of the eighth. Burman doubled to left field, recording his second hit of the game, and advanced to third while the Colonels made a play at first. Falcon once again got on base, drawing a walk. An illegal pitched advanced Falcon to second, sending Burman home. Ruiz then singled to center field, advancing Falcon. He later stole second while Falcon scored.

The Cardinals held Wilkes off for the rest of the game, securing the 6-2 victory. 

Game Two, Wilkes 1, Catholic 0

With two wins over the Colonels, Catholic looked for the series sweep in game two of Sunday's double header. Wilkes got its leadoff batter on base, as Melberger drew a walk, but the Cardinals quickly responded with three quick outs.

In the top of the second, Napolitano had the first hit of the game with a two-out single to center field. Catholic was unable to capitalize. Wilkes added a hit in the bottom of the inning, but also failed to score.

Both teams continued to rely on strong defense. In the top of the fifth, Napolitano picked up his second hit of the game with a single to right field. Bateman walked, and Gus Wright singled to load the bases, but the Cardinals couldn't bring a run home.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Colonels broke through. Devin Market doubled to left field, and Richie Rossi entered as a pinch runner. Rossi then advanced to third during Mike Show's at-bat. With one out, Jack Veith laid down a bunt, allowing Rossi to score.

Catholic continued to fight in the top of the ninth. Matthew Fisher drew a walk, and Nico Tozzi pinch ran for him. Ruiz was then hit by a pitch, advancing Tozzi. Wilkes secured the final two outs with a double play to end the game

Inside the Box Score

• Burman went 2-4 in game one, scoring two runs and hitting his 10th home run of the season.
• Ruiz went 2-4 on the day, hitting a triple in and logging a stolen base.
• Napolitano went 4-8 on the day, earning one RBI.
• Falcon went 3-2 in game one, recording a double and two runs.
• Luke Cardman pitched six innings with six strikeouts, allowing only two hits.
• Coen Devillier had six strikeouts as well across five innings, allowing just one hit. 
• Charlie Belli earned the win in the first game, his third of the season, with three strikeouts across four innings.

Catholic concludes its 2025-26 campaign with an overall record of 21-16 and a conference record of 11-13.