WASHINGTON – CUA maintained its hold of first place in the Landmark Conference with a doubleheader sweep of Susquehanna on Saturday afternoon. The Cards rallied for both wins, overcoming a 4-0 deficit in the opener to earn an 8-4 win, before coming away with a 6-4 victory in the nightcap. Mike McFarland was the star of the afternoon, totaling 4 hits in 6 at bats, to go along with four RBIs and two runs.

CUA fell behind 4-0 in game number-one. Susquehanna scored a single run in the 1st on Bryan Palsi's RBI single, and the Crusaders added two more in the 3rd to go in front by three.

Nick Ferlise then unleashed a towering home run to right field in the 4th to put CUA in a four-run hole.

The Cardinal bats took awhile, but after three hitless innings, they finally awoke in the 4th.

Mark Kalokitis led the frame off with a single and walks to Chris McCloud and Nick Clary loaded the bases.

With one out, Brendan Breslin drew a walk to force in CUA's first run of the day.

McFarland then delivered a big, two-run single to right to make it a 4-3 game, and Dan Hinchcliff followed with a RBI groundout to tie the score.

CUA was done yet though, as Pat DeToro ripped a double down the right field line to make it 5-4. A balk moved DeToro over to third and a wild pitch brought him home to give the Cards a two-run advantage.

Another RBI single from McFarland, this one coming in the 5th, made it 7-4, and Kalokitis' RBI hit in the 6th put CUA on top by four.

After allowing the first two runners to reach in the 7th, Chris Nee retired the next three Crusaders in order, sending the Cardinals to victory.

Robin Mowatt battled his way through six innings on the hill, allowing 11 hits and four runs, while striking out three to earn the win.

Spencer Hotaling looked sharp in the beginning for the Crusaders, but he wound up allowing five runs on two hits, while walking four and suffered the loss.

In the nightcap, Susquehanna again jumped out to an early lead, scoring once in the 1st and 2nd to grab a 2-0 advantage.

CUA tied the score in the 2nd when McFarland and DeToro delivered run-scoring hits.

The Crusaders went back in front in the 3rd when Ferlise singled in Palsi to make it 3-2, and the lead reached two the next inning, when Palsi doubled home Dylan Glassmire.

The comeback theme continued in the bottom of the frame, when Stefan Poggioli drove in two runs with a two-out single to right, to tie things at four.

CUA then took its first lead of the game with a single run in the 5th, as Marc Hanna doubled home McCloud with two outs to make it 5-4.

Following a lead off single by McFarland in the 6th, Charlie Dillon doubled in pinch runner Nick Scali to put the Cards in front by two.

Nee then came in and worked a 1-2-3 7th inning to earn the save and complete the sweep.

Rob Steinkopf earned the win this time around for CUA, working 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of starter Kevin Farley.

Luc Kocher suffered the loss for the Crusaders, allowing five runs on nine hits in five innings.

These same two teams will close out their three-game set on Sunday afternoon at Talbot Field. First pitch is set for noon. CUA will honor its six-man senior class prior to the game with a short ceremony.