RADNOR, Pa. - The Cabrini University baseball team relied on power and plate discipline to outscore Eastern University on a rainy Saturday. The Cavaliers used three big innings to bring 17 of their 18 runs across the plate, defeating the Eagles by an 18-14 final. The Eagle Road rivals will meet once more on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

How It Happened
Hunter Kraiza was nearly untouchable through three innings of work. In the first inning, he'd retire the top of the Eagles' lineup in order. In the second, Kraiza faced little trouble, fanning two and allowing only an infield single. He'd strike out the side to cruise through the third inning with only 39 pitches thrown.

Cabrini found their first runs in the bottom of the third. Dustin Sutton and Garrett Laraia reached base to open the inning, eventually putting runners on the corners for Ryan Dipper. Between pitches, Laraia took off for second and Sutton made a move home. Eastern threw to the plate before overthrowing the ball into left field, allowing Sutton to score and Laraia to take third. Dipper would walk to put two men on for Zack Brook, who delivered a three-run bomb over the left field wall. 

Armed with a 4-0 lead, Hunter Kraiza took the mound as rain began to fall. After a dominant first three innings that featured 5 strikeouts, 2 groundouts, and a single baserunner, Kraiza would surrender two runs before leaving the hill with the bases loaded, no outs. Josh Colon took over, as Eastern landed three hits to the right side before he'd end the inning. Colon took the fifth inning as well, when Eastern's cleanup hitter cleared the fence for a three run homer. Colon struck out the last batter he faced, picking up 2 Ks across two innings of work.

Trailing by five runs in the fifth, Zack Brook hit his second home run of the day, a solo shot to cut Eastern's lead to 9-5. Cabrini put up a five-spot in the sixth, as Colt Narciso, Dustin Sutton, and Ryan Dipper all doubled in the frame. In addition to the gappers, Strickland and Laraia supplied walks and Jaden Dickerson had a 2 run single into left field. Cabrini ended the sixth inning holding 10-9.

Blake Weinstein's outing began in the top of the sixth. He allowed a leadoff double, but ended the inning in three batters after Narciso flipped a lineout to Campbell for a 6-4 double play. Weinstein forced three soft flyouts to escape the seventh inning without allowing anyone to pass. His 3 runs came from a single swing, as Eastern's cleanup hitter cleared the fence.

Trailing by 2, Cabrini hoisted an 8-run eighth inning. Jaden Dickerson led off with a walk, followed by a double from Ryan Dipper. Zack Brook knocked in both runners with a single to left, knotting the scoreboard at 12. Jacob Roberts ate a pitch and Colt Narciso walked to load the bases for Dustin Sutton, who delivered a bases-clearing double beneath the glove of the left fielder. Garrett Laraia and Jaden Dickerson walked as the Cavs occupied every base again, before Ryan Dipper's single over the second baseman scored Sutton and Laraia. Cabrini's final run of the inning came as Dickerson scored on an infield error.

After their explosive inning, the Cavs turned to Dom Marotta to protect their 6 run lead. He'd allow 2 runs to pass with one out, but worked out of the jam by catching the Eagles' two-hitter looking and forcing a flare to right for the 27th out. 

On Deck
Cabrini hosts Eastern again on Sunday, March 10 with first pitch slated for 3pm.