MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Leading 1-0 in the ninth inning CUA saw Wesley (12-2) score twice to defeat the Cardinals 2-1 in walk-off fashion on Tuesday afternoon. CUA (5-3) scored its lone run in the sixth inning and received a tremendous effort from pitchers Nick Rogowski and Rob Steinkopf who combined for seven shutout innings.
After five innings of scoreless baseball CUA broke the 0-0 tie with a run in the top of the sixth. Matt Grieb singled with two outs to get the rally started and then stole second to move into scoring position. Tim Mierzwa singled home Grieb to make it 1-0 and he advanced to second on the throw to the plate.
Brendan Breslin was next and he also singled, but Mierzwa was thrown out at the plate, ending CUA's hopes of extending its lead.
Following another two innings of scoreless ball the teams headed to the bottom of the ninth with CUA clinging to its one-run lead.
Marc Hanna, who took the mound in the top of the eighth, was pitching for CUA and looked to close down the Wolverines.
Rob Benedict doubled to lead things off for Wesley and Jon Carlson bunted him over to third, putting the tying run just 90 feet away. Kevin Murphy was next and he singled home Benedict to tie things at one.
Geoff Kimmel was then intentionally walked and he and Murphy executed a double steal to put the runners on second and third with only one out. CUA also intentionally walked the next batter, Bryan Reshetar, to load the bases.
Steve Perone stepped in next and delivered a game-winning single for the Wolverines to lift them to the 2-1 win.
Hanna suffered the loss for CUA after throwing 1.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits, while Adam Stuart earned the win by going one inning and not allowing any runs.
Rogowski got the start for CUA and went 2.1 innings, struck out three, and did not allow any runs before giving way to Steinkopf who threw 4.2 innings, struck out two and kept the Wolverines off the scoreboard.
On Wednesday CUA continues action from South Carolina with a matchup vs. Penn State-Harrisburg at noon.