The Catholic University baseball team extended its season-best winning streak on Tuesday, overcoming Elizabethtown in a 12-11 high-scoring battle. In a game defined by shifting momentum, Sammy Burman provided the finishing touch with a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, improving the Cardinals’ record to 18-14.
The Final Push
Burman’s decisive blast—his conference-leading seventh of the year—came with one out in the eighth. To close it out, Will Hanson took the mound in the ninth. Despite a late scare involving a walk and a hit batter, Hanson maintained his poise, striking out the final hitter to earn the save. The victory was a milestone for the Cardinals, marking their first win against the Blue Jays in eight meetings.
A Seesaw Battle
The contest turned into a shootout during the middle innings:
- The Deficit: Elizabethtown surged ahead in the sixth with a five-run rally.
- The Response: Catholic responded immediately. After Jack Bateman, Chris Esquivel, and Matt Perlin loaded the bases, Burman drove in two with a single. Chase Falcon followed with an RBI hit of his own.
- The Equalizer: Gabriel Ruiz capped the five-run comeback with a two-RBI single to center, knotting the game at 11-11.
Earlier in the game, Lance Eilbacher erased a 5-3 deficit in the third with a two-run homer, while Bateman added an infield RBI single to briefly put Catholic ahead. The Cardinals’ offense was locked in from the jump, scoring three runs in the first inning led by a Matthew Fisher sacrifice fly and a two-run single from Falcon.
Standout Performances
The victory was bolstered by several career-best efforts:
- Coen Devillier: Earned his first career win by tossing two scoreless innings of relief—the longest outing of his career.
- Matt Perlin: Tied a career-high with a 3-for-4 performance, raising his season average to .337.
- Sammy Burman: Notched three RBIs to move into second place in the Landmark Conference (36 total).
- Will Hanson: Lowered his season ERA to a dominant 1.71 while securing his third save.
What’s Next?
The Cardinals look to keep the momentum going at home. They return to Talbot Field this Saturday, April 18, for a 1:00 PM matchup against Penn State Harrisburg.