RADNOR, PA - The Cabrini University baseball team split a two game series against visiting Messiah University this afternoon to open their 2022 season.
The Cavs claimed a 9-5 victory in game one and but fell by a 14-6 in game two to move to 1-1 on the season.
Game One
Senior
Jonathan Baker got the nod as the Cavs' opening day starter and lasted four innings, surrendering just one run (earned) on three hits, and a strikeout.
Sophomore
Pat Toal (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K), senior
Joey Moyer (1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 K) and freshman
Jordan Silvestri (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 K) combined for the remaining three innings of work.
Offensively, the Cavaliers tallied eight hits as graduate student
Steven Priest and senior
Dustin Sutton tallied two each. Sutton as well as sophomores
Zack Brook and
Christian Strickland collected two RBI's each.
After two scoreless innings, the Blue and White used a three run third inning, highlighted by Brook who doubled to right field for tow RBI's.
Still trailing by three in the top of the sixth the visitors would tie the game at four apiece on a double by the Falcons' Kasey Caras.
The Cavs responded with five runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth thanks, including a pair of singles by Sutton and Strickland for a total of four RBI's.
Messiah added a run in the top of the seventh but Cabrini held strong for the 9-5 victory.
Game Two
The backend of the day's double dip featured a strong showing from senior
Gil Peralta as he paced the Blue and White with three hits in three at bats, two runs, and two RBI's including the Cavs first homerun of the season. Sutton finished the nightcap with two hits and an RBI. Senior
Mack McKisson had two RBI on one hit.
Senior
Mike Valerio toed the rubber in game two and was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven runs on four hits in the first inning.
Freshman
Zach Taylor (2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 K),
Brett Harrelle (1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 K),
Brian Dino (2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K), and sophomore
Andrew Smith (.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K) combined for the remaining six innings of work.
After falling behind 8-2 through one inning of play Peralta's aforementioned solo homerun to open up the bottom of the third provided a glimmer of hope for the Blue and White. The Cavs tacked on one more as Brook flew out to right field to bring home Priest to make it 8-4.
The Falcons would quickly answer, however as they pushed across four on two hits in the top of the fourth.
McKisson would hit a triple down the right line in the bottom of the sixth for two RBI's but Messiah added two more in the top of the seventh to cruise to the 14-6 final.
The Blue and White will travel to Washington, DC to face Catholic University next Saturday, February 19
th. Game one is slated to begin at 12pm.
