(Posted March 28, 2010)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Scoring at least one run in each of the first six innings, the Catholic University of America was able to sweep past Juniata College with a 15-1 victory in game three on Sunday, at Robert J. Talbot Field, in Washington, D.C.

The Cardinals' carnage started in the bottom half of the first when they put together a two out, bases empty rally to finish with three runs.

Eagles' starter John Love (Loysburg, Pa./Northern Bedford) retired the first two batters of the inning with ease, but it was getting the third out that seemed to be troublesome.

Mark Kalokitis started things off with a single into right field. Dave Grear pulled a ball just inside the third base bag down the line for a double, scoring Kalokitis. Tommy Bowles followed suit with a single into right field, plating Grear as the throw sailed wide of home plate.

Then LJ Travaglia skied one to right field, and it looked like the Eagles were going to get out of it, but the ball managed to popped out of Chase Dykstra's (Somerset, Pa./Somerset Area) glove, scoring Bowles and extending the inning.

After Juniata (3-16, 1-5 Landmark) went down in order in the second, the Cardinals put three more n the board, most of the damage coming off the bat of Dmitri Deoudes, as he hit a two run homerun to left field.

The Eagles scratched their only run across the plate in the third, starting with Andrew Hirsch (Annandale, Va./Falls Church). After Hirsch got on base with a single, Dykstra roped a ball up the middle, glancing the pitchers glove and headed towards the second baseman. But the speedy leadoff man was able to beat the throw for the infield single.

Two batters later, now with two outs, Johnny Martinez (Mt. Union, Pa./Mt. Union) singled into centerfield, allowing Hirsch to waltz home freely.

But that was all Juniata could muster as Catholic (9-3, 6-0 Landmark) scored three more in the fourth. Grear did the big damage again, hitting a two run homer over the gap in left center. They followed that up with two more in the fifth, and another three spot in the sixth.

The Eagles came away with 11 hits, all singles, but couldn't find the timely hitting, leaving 11 men on base in the contest.

Pacing the Juniata offense was Dykstra, Martinez and Ian Thorne (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) who all tallied two hits apiece.

Love got tagged with the loss, throwing three plus innings, giving up nine runs (five earned) on seven hits.

The Eagles return to action on Thursday, April 1, when they travel to Penn State Altoona to battle with the Lions for the third time this season.

They will play again at Langdon-Goodale Field starting next Friday, April 2, with a Landmark Conference showdown with Drew University.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.