WASHINGTON, DC - The Cabrini University baseball team opened their 2019 season with a double header sweep of the hosting Catholic University of America Cardinals this evening. 

The Cavaliers received strong pitching performances from a pair of newcomers in both en route to two 6-3 victories. 

Game One: Cabrini 6, Catholic 3
Sophomore Andrew Corso earned the nod as the opening day starter for the Blue and White and didn't disappoint. The Lancaster native tossed 4.1 innings of three hit ball and allowed just two runs, one earned, and induced eight flyouts of his 18 batters faced. 

Despite Corso's strong start, sophomore Drew Swire was credited with the victory after coming on in relief to finish the fifth inning. 

The offense, meanwhile was paced by junior Henry Peguero's two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Classmate Juan Familia finished 1-4, but delivered the big blow with his sixth inning two RBI double, while sophomore Mack McKisson went 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI. 

Cabrini opened up the scoring in the games first frame following a sac fly from Peguero to plate McKisson. Catholic would quickly even things back at one apiece thanks to a sacrifice fly of their own in the second. 

The Cardinals took a 2-1 advantage in the fourth following a double down the right field line, but the Blue and White would get the run right back in the top of the fifth thanks to a McKisson RBI single. 

The Cavs broke the game open in the sixth inning as a bases loaded walk from sophomore Steven Priest and an ensuing bases loaded hit by pitch from junior Joe Aurite quickly gave the Cavs a 4-2 advantage. As mentioned, Familia's double down the line marked the big blow for the Cavs as they pushed their lead to 6-2. 

A late RBI single from Catholic made it a 6-3 Cavalier lead, but that's as close as the Cardinals would come. Senior Tyler Ronayne closed the door for the Cavs as he allowed just the lone run and struck out four in two innings of work. 

Game Two: Cabrini 6, Catholic 3
Cabrini earned an equally impressive win in game two thanks to another strong start, this time from Drew Jackson. The junior logged four innings of three hit ball and allowed two earned runs, all while striking out five Cardinals. 

Sophomore Corey Hunt earned the victory in relief thanks to two innings of work. Freshman Mike Gama, meanwhile picked up the rare three inning save and struck out seven of the 10 batters he faced. 

The offense, this time led by junior Tyler Norris's two hits, RBI and two stolen bases, posted another six runs on five hits. Priest, Aurite and sophomore Justin Henry rounded out the Cavaliers' with hits, but a two RBI double from Aurite was the biggest. 

With two outs and a runner on first and second, the Blue and White took advantage of a miscue by the Catholic first baseman as the error allowed Henry to score. Clinging to the 3-2 lead, Aurite handed the Cavaliers some breathing room with his go ahead double to right center to push the lead to 5-2.

Catholic would trim their deficit back to 5-3 in the ensuing frame, but an eighth inning RBI double from Priest ended hopes of a comeback. 

Following today's action, the Cavs improve to 2-0 and will look to stay hot as they travel to Auburndale, FL in just over a week where they'll play eight games in seven days. Milwaukee School of Engineering will kick off the trip on February 24th. First pitch is slated for 9:45am.