WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Stevenson baseball team had a 3-0 lead through two, but the host Catholic University Cardinals used a five-run third to take the lead and never look back defeating the Mustangs by a final of 8-5 on Wednesday afternoon.  Junior designated-hitter Mark Terrell was a bright spot for Stevenson going 4-4 for the game with an RBI and drew a walk.

• Stevenson (14-14) plated a pair to start the game against home starter Mason Belcher.
• Junior Kevin Murray Jr. smacked a leadoff double and came home two batters later when senior Matthew Kerber put a single into left for the early 1-0 edge.
• Kerber swiped second during the at-bat of fellow senior Zachary DeLong and then grabbed third with junior Alex Kidwiler at the dish.
• Kidwiler rewarded the hard work by legging out a slowly hit ball to the third baseman scoring the runner making it 2-0.
• Catholic (16-10) did nothing in their half off of junior Zach Kaye as he got Ryan Tracy to swing at strike three and induced a pair of groundouts to retire the side. 

• The Mustangs went ahead 3-0 thanks to a leadoff single off the stick of sophomore Thomas Holcomb coming around to score two hitters later when freshman Matt Luterman laid down a sacrifice bunt to drive in the run from third after Terrell moved him 90-feet with a knock to center.  
• Murray would reach on a two-out error from the third baseman, but freshman Jonathan Brandt grounded back to Belcher on the mound to leave one stranded.
• Kaye set down the first two Cardinals before Christian Jones earned the first hit for the home team with a bunt single. 
• Cid Porter struck out for what appeared to be the third out, however, he was safe at first on an error by the catcher on a dropped strike three.
• With two on and two gone Nicholas Torroella popped up to second to stall the threat.  

• Jack Ropelewski took over on the hill for Belcher and retired Kerber and DeLong for two quick outs.
• Kidwiler and senior Jordan Moore kept the frame alive with back-to-back base hits. 
• A passed ball moved both men into scoring position, unfortunately, Holcomb flew out leaving a pair on base.
• Catholic got on the board in the home half, a leadoff knock for Tighe Watson followed by a one-out free pass given to Tyler Shaffer brought Bailey Lewis to the plate.
• During his at-bat, Kaye committed a wild pitch giving both runners an additional 90-feet which he took advantage of driving in both on a triple out to deep right trimming the score to 3-2.
• The game was tied with the next batter as Nolan Lundholm singled to left plating Lewis.
• Two men later the hosts had their first lead when Jones sent a two-run shot beyond the wall for a 5-3 lead. 

• After the Mustangs left the tying runs in scoring position in the top of the inning the hosts added two more as two walks and an infield single led to Lundholm singling up the box plated two and extending the Cardinals lead to 7-3.
• Connor Cozad grounded out to Brandt at third to end the frame.

• Kidwiler and Holcomb both drew walks to give the visitors two runners with two out for Terrell. 
• He pulled Stevenson to within 7-4 with an RBI single into center field scoring Kidwiler.
• Luterman followed with a walk to load the bases, but Murray hit into a fielder's choice forcing out Luterman to end the rally.  
• Sophomore Phil Wugalter came in from the bullpen and provided a much-needed shutdown inning getting two strikeouts and a fly out.

• With the bases loaded and one out, Catholic plated an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Lundholm making it 8-4, during the play Ryan Tracy who had reached on an error was gunned down at the dish trying to stretch the lead.  

• The Mustangs attempted to begin a comeback against reliever Ethan Risse as a solo blast by Kidwiler cut it down to 8-5, but he set down three of the next four batters to end the game.

• W: Jack Ropelewski (1-2), L: Zach Kaye (1-2)
• Kaye suffered the loss going four innings allowing seven runs on seven hits and struck out six.
• Kidwiler and Kerber each had a pair of hits combining for three runs scored, two RBIs, and a home run by Kidwiler number five of the season.
• Murray, Moore, and Holcomb notched one hit apiece.
• Moore earned the win out of the pen hurling three frames of two hit and one run baseball.
• Starter, Belcher did not fair in the decision lasting only 2.0 innings giving up four hits and three runs.

• Stevenson will get back into MAC Commonwealth play on Friday, April 12 when they host the Messiah College Falcons in game one of a three-game weekend set with first pitch slated for 3:30pm at Sugar Field.