As the final week of the regular season comes to a close for the Cardinals, Coach Johnston's ball club took advantage of an open play date and scheduled a non-conference game. The Cardinals made the trip to the west side to play Aquinas. The Cardinals managed to combine efficient pitching and timely hitting to sweep the Saints. The sweep extended the Cardinals win streak to 10 games.
Game 1 - CUAA 2, AQ 1
The Cardinals got on the board first on a run by Jordan Sherman. Victor Diaz grounded out to second base but a fielder's choice allowed Sherman to score an unearned run.
The Saints knotted the game at 1 with an RBI triple in the fourth inning. The Cardinals quickly responded in the fifth inning to score the go-ahead run. Jordan Sherman doubled to leadoff the inning. Two batters later with two outs, Grant Steinborn singled. Sherman advanced to third and eventually crossed home plate on an Aquinas error.
Brendan Lyons started on the mound for the Cardinals and took advantage of the opportunity. Lyons picked up his fourth win of the season and kept his mark perfect at 4-0. Lyons went the distance and only allowed three hits while striking out four.
Game 2 CUAA 6, AQ 1
Game two started similarly with Aquinas scoring an early run to take the lead. The Cardinals quickly responded in the second inning thanks to the bat of Calvin Syrjala. A two run home run by Syrjala to center field also scored Steinborn giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
Syrjala also gave used the long ball again the in the fourth inning to increase the Cardinals lead 4-1. The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh. RJ Bortle recorded an RBI double scoring Caleb Chamberlain. Adam Purdy recorded a team high three hits with one coming in the seventh inning. Purdy tripled to the right field scoring RJ Bortle leading to a final score of 6-1.
Coach Johnston used his pitching staff by committee with Ryan Abenth earning the start and win. Abenth pitched two innings and recorded three strikeouts. He gave the ball to his cousin Elijah where he went three innings and did not allow a run while striking out three. Logan Fleming took the final two innings and struck out two while not allowing a run.
The Cardinals will travel to Livonia, Mich. On Saturday for a double header with Madonna.