Cardinals Win Opening Game in Landmark Conference Tournament, 21-11, Face Host Moravian Saturday

Cardinals Win Opening Game in Landmark Conference Tournament, 21-11, Face Host Moravian Saturday

(May 7, 2010) – The Catholic University offense picked a good time to revive itself.

After scoring just five runs in three losses last weekend, the Cardinals exploded for 18 hits in a 21-11 victory over Susquehanna University in the first round of the Landmark Conference Tournament in Bethlehem, Pa., on Friday.

Played a top-seeded Moravian College’s Gillespie Field, CUA (22-15) erupted for nine runs on seven hits and three Crusader errors in the bottom of the fourth inning to build a 13-2 lead.

Susquehanna chased Cardinal starter Andrew Moldawer after 4 2/3 innings with six runs in the fifth and Billy Robbett (3-1) picked up the win by getting the final out in the inning. Rob Steinkopf fanned three batters by pitching the final two innings.

The second-seeded Cards advance to play Moravian, a 13-0 winner over fourth-seeded Juniata College on Saturday at 9 a.m. Juniata stayed alive in the double-elimination tournament by downing third-seeded Susquehanna, 5-2.

The loser of the CUA/Greyhound contest will meet Juniata in a second elimination game Saturday afternoon. The tournament champion qualifies for the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Eamonn Burke, L.J. Travaglia and Dave Grear tallied three hits each for CUA on Friday. Burke’s five RBI’s included his fifth home run of the year, a grand slam in the fourth. Dmitri Deoudes (2-for-6) drove in three runs and scored twice. Tommy Little was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. He and Tim Mierzwa (1-for-4) scored five runs apiece. Travaglia’s 3-for-5 performance included two RBIs and three runs.

Now the Redbirds will attempt to do something they were unable to do last weekend when they lost three games at Moravian. The Cards, who played error-free ball Friday, are trying to win their straight Landmark Tournament.

Second baseman Justin Portzline led Susquehanna’s 13-hit attack by going 4-for-6, knocking in four runs and scoring three times. He hit his third round-tripper of the year with a two-run blast in the eighth.

Susquehanna finished its season 21-19.