Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bernard Dennis reached on an error in the home half of the third inning to spark a two-out rally that produced four runs, and propelled Catholic to a 4-1 win over visiting Gettysburg in baseball action on Tuesday.
The Cardinals (10-5-1) were led by Jason Funk with three hits, including his only RBI in the fateful third inning.
Ron Lettieri (South Hempstead, NY/Southside) had a 2-for-4 day with one RBI to pace the Bullets (2-1) in their first setback of the young campaign.
Brian Pernice (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown) lasted just 2 and 2/3 innings in his debut on the hill, picking up the loss. John Schmidt pitched the complete game for the win, allowing just the one run.
Timothy Bottomly led off the bottom of the third with a double. After a flyout and groundout put Gettysburg one out away from getting out of trouble, Pernice surrendered his only walk of the game to put runners on the corners.
Dennis reached on the lone Bullet error of the contest, allowing Bottomly to score and give Catholic the 1-0 lead. Four straight singles produced the next three runs and led to Pernice's early exit.
Tobin Whitman (Lyme Center, NH/Hanover) and forced Bottomly – the 10th man to hit in the inning – to hit into a fielder's choice.
Whitman went the rest of the way for Gettysburg, scattering five hits and striking out three.
The Bullets would not have an answer until the top of the ninth. Anthony Cavallo (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa) reached on a bloop-single to right to open the inning. Joe Gossweiler (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) singled to put two on with nobody out.
After Ben Carey (Colchester, CT/St. Bernard) reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners, Lettieri singled home pinch-runner Mark Campo (Arendtsville, PA/Biglerville) to cut the lead to 4-1.
A double-play ball by Mike Luteran (Livingston, NJ/Livingston) ended the comeback attempt.
Schmidt scattered just five hits in the nine innings and struck out three.
The Bullets return to action on Wednesday at Shenandoah. Game time is 3 p.m.
| Score by Inning |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
- |
R |
H |
E |
| Gettysburg (2-1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
- |
1 |
5 |
1 |
| Catholic (10-5-1) |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
4 |
10 |
0 |
G – Brian Pernice, Tobin Whitman (3) and Mike Luteran; C – John Schmidt and Timothy Bottomly. WP: Schmidt LP: Pernice (0-1) S: none SO-BB: Pernice 1-1, Whitman 3-1; Schmidt 3-0. 2B: Bottomly (C).
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