Cardinals drop a tough 9-8 decision to Stevenson in final inning

WASHINGTON – The Cardinals dropped a tough 9-8 decision to Stevenson on Thursday afternoon at Talbot Field.   CUA had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the ninth and a wild pitch by the Mustangs looked like it would allow the tying run to cross, but both Cardinal runners were thrown out on the play, ending the game.

Stevenson struck first with two runs in the top half of the first inning, but CUA came right back to tie the game with two runs of its own in the bottom half.  The big blow came from Dan Sullivan who crushed a two-run homer to right field.

The Mustangs went back in front with two more runs in the top of the second and they added another two in the third to take a 6-2 lead.

Chris McCloud belted a solo home run to left field to lead off the third and bring CUA within three, but Stevenson got the run right back in the top of the fourth to go back in front by four.

In the bottom of the seventh the Cardinals scored three times to pull within 7-6 with Sullivan knocking in a run with a single, McCloud driving in another with a sac fly and Mark Kalokitis singling in the third run.

Two runs by Stevenson in the top of the ninth put the Mustangs in front 9-6 but CUA refused to go away quietly.  Sullivan led the bottom of the inning off with a walk, McCloud was hit by a pitch and Matt Grieb also walked to load the bases.

A wild pitch forced in the Cardinals seventh run of the afternoon and a Kalokitis sac fly to right field made it 9-8 with only one out. 

Pinch hitter Dimitri Deoudes then walked to put runners on the corners, but the Cardinals rally quickly ended when a wild pitch was played off the backstop by the Mustangs catcher and he threw to home for one out and Stevenson’s pitcher threw down to third to nab Deoudes and end the game.

A total of 11 pitchers were used in the game, including seven by CUA.  Tom Egan suffered the loss after he went 2.0 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits, while D.J. Milliken picked up the win for Stevenson after he threw 6.2 innings, allowed six runs on seven hits and struck out one.

CUA will now turn its attention back to the Landmark Conference as the Cardinals play host to Moravian in a three-game set beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader.  First pitch of game one from Talbot Field is set for noon.