The Elizabethtown College baseball team opened up their Landmark Conference game this past Saturday, March 16, against the Catholic University of America at home.

As the Blue Jays ultimately ended up splitting the day with their opponents, the hard work and determination for the opening of a great season was clearly shown by both teams.

In game one, the Cardinals started off with a lead, gaining one run over the Blue Jays in the first inning. By the end of the second inning, Catholic was leading by a startling five runs.

Etown struggled to catch up over the course of the next few innings, but managed to score three times in the fifth alone.

First was first-year Tyler Mcgonigle, followed closely by senior Anthony Knight and junior Mike Christy. They did not score enough to make a full comeback, though, and the game finished in Catholic’s favor 6-3.

In the second game, both teams went back and forth scoring two runs each in the first inning. The Bluejays’ first two innings came from Knight and junior Derek Manning.

In the second inning, Catholic scored two more runs, but not without a fight. Christy came back and sacrificed a fly out to center so the base runner could cut down the opponents’ lead by one.

In the fifth, Etown was able to gain a lead with senior James Kantner doubling to center in order to tie up the core 4-4.

Soon after, a single by Manning advanced Knight and McGonigle and sent Kantner home. By the end of the inning, Knight and McGonigle managed to score as well, quickly increasing the lead to 7-4.

As the two teams went back and forth over the last couple innings, sophomore Kelly Holdren closed it out in order for Etown to secure the win with one last run, making it 12-8 final.

The team will play doubleheader against Moravian College, Saturday, March 23.