WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University baseball team lost a close one at the hands of Catholic University of America at Hoy Field Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game between the two cross-town rivals. The Cardinals (11-9) were able stave off a late-inning Bison rally to hang on and win, 3-2. The loss ends Gallaudet's five-game winning streak.

Gallaudet  (15-8) was able to put the first run on the board early in the first inning, when senior outfielder Marcus Smith (Baltimore, Md.) and senior JJ Klein (Cincinnati, Ohio) pulled off a double steal after a strikeout. From here, the Bison were held scoreless until the ninth inning, while the Cardinals racked up three runs.

In the ninth inning, the Bison had all the ingredients for a comeback when senior catcher Casey Hicks (Henderson, Nev.) hit an opposite field home run to right field to pull GU within one, 3-2. The home run was Hicks' fourth of the season. Catholic pitcher Collin Kelley was able to hold off the Bison in the final inning as he picked up a save.

Gallaudet senior starting pitcher Chris Guinn (McLoud, Okla.) faced 26 batters in 5.1 innings where he allowed three runs on eight hits, walked three and collected three strikeouts. Freshman Ian Evans (Murphy, N.C.) kept the game close for the Bison over the final three innings as he logged 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Freshman first baseman Justin Strong (Charlotte, N.C.) and Smith accounted for two-thirds of the hits for the Bison as they each had two apiece.

Catholic third baseman Marc Hanna recorded two triples and outfielder Brett Padula had a double and triple in the win for the Cardinals. Kevin Farley (4-0) earned the win as he went five innings and allowed two hits and struck out three batters.

Gallaudet will look to get back to its winning ways on Friday, April 4, when it travels to Lancaster Bible College for a nine-inning North Eastern Athletic Conference game at 3 p.m.