Knights Get Win in First Home Game of the Season

By Russell Hodge and Rebecca Plantholt

Rosedale, Md.— Friday afternoon, the Knights hosted the CCBC Catonsville Cardinals in their first home contest of the season. The game was a close one, as the Knights took down the Cardinals 2-1. 

This matchup featured a pitching duel between Travis Weaver of the Cardinals and Todd Murphy of the Knights. They pitched a combined 10 innings giving up no earned runs. The difference was the Knights were able to capitalize on errors made by the Cardinals to score a run in back-to-back innings.

In the fourth, Weaver issued back-to-back one out walks to Emanuel Morales and Likeiry Taveras Jimenez. The Knights executed a double steal on Emmanuel Maldonado's swinging strikeout, and Morales was able to score on the overthrow down to third by Cardinals' Brian Titus, also allowing Jimenez to advance to third.

After the Knights took a 1-0 lead, Murphy exited the game with four scoreless innings pitched, giving up two hits, three walks, and recording six strikeouts. Jake Crawford relieved Murphy and he logged three straight strikeouts in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom half of the inning, Logan Leasure reached on an error and was able to advance with one out. He then stole third on Alvin Carela's strikeout and was able to score on a wild pitch to increase the Knights lead to 2-0.

Crawford was dominant on the mound, with the Cardinals only run coming late in the game. In the top of the ninth inning, Crawford forced a groundout before allowing only his second walk of his outing to Roman March. He then gave up a line drive by Angelo Ramirez back up the middle into center field. March was able to advance to third on the hit-and-run. Ramirez stole second to put two in scoring position with one out. The Cardinals and March were then able to put their only run up on the board as a result of a sacrifice fly by Alex Elliott to right field. Ramirez advanced to third on the sacrifice fly but Crawford was able to hold off the Cardinals late surge by inducing an infield popup to end the end.

Crawford finished the game with five innings pitched, allowing one run on five hits with eight strikeouts, and recording his first save of the season. Head coach Sean O'Connor couldn't help but cite them after the win. "Our pitchers really kept us in the game and we made the most of our two hits. This was 100% a team win."

Crawford also realized the importance of the whole team in the win after his noteworthy performance. "I thought Todd started off the game really well and left the game with momentum. Manny Jackson had a lot of blocks today. I felt confident on the mound and the defense behind me was solid." 

Due to inclement weather, this Saturday's double header against Orange County Community College has been canceled.  Sunday's double header against the University of Connecticut at Avery Point is postponed. The Knights will now host the Pointers on Monday, March 14th in a double header starting at 1:00pm.