WASHINGTON D.C. - #5/#10 Salve Regina University opened its 2026 season at Catholic University in the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational and the Seahawks finished on the downside of a 9-7 decision against the host Cardinals on Friday afternoon at Talbot Field in Washington D.C.

Starting center fielder Danny Rogers (New Canaan, Conn.) had an RBI single in the first before leaving with an injury. His replacement in the lineup, classmate Dylan Cimini (Stonington, Conn.), rapped a run-scoring double in the ninth that brought home senior catcher Shea Donovan (Milton, Mass.) who had driven in two Seahawks with a two-out double in the left center gap. Starting pitcher James Tobin (North Haven, Conn.) took the setback (L, 0-1) after working six innings and striking out four Cardinals. Reliever Joe DeRienzo (Trumbull, Conn.) struck out the first three Cardinals he faced in the eighth.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Finals: Catholic 9, Salve Regina 7
Records: Salve Regina (0-1, 0-0 NEWMAC), Catholic (1-0, 0-0 Landmark)
All-Time Series: In last year's season opener, then #2/#3 Salve Regina erupted for seven runs in the ninth for an 11-2 final. Brady Smolinski and Brandon Grover smack homers for Salve Regina. Evan O'Rourke belted four singles and drove in three runs as the #13/19 Salve Regina University baseball team opened 2024 with a 6-0 win against host Catholic University at Talbot Field in the first of six contests in the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational. Sean Mulligan and Kyle Carozza combined for the shutout while striking out 10 Cardinals in the nine innings on the mound. In 2023, Catholic won the first two meetings between the two schools on the diamond, 6-3 and 6-5. Cardinals lead all-time series, 3-2.

SUMMARY

• T1 - Shane Williams reached on a fielder's choice; Evan O'Rourke out at second 2b unassisted; Jake Harring advanced to third, scored on an error by 2b, unearned. Danny Rogers singled to left center, RBI; S. Donovan advanced to third; S. Williams scored, unearned. | SEAHAWKS 2, CARDINALS 0
• B1 - Lo. Eilbacher doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI; S. Burman scored; C. Esquivel scored. G. Ruiz grounded out to ss, RBI; Lo. Eilbacher scored. | SEAHAWKS 2, CARDINALS 3
• B2 - C. Esquivel singled up the middle, RBI; La. Eilbacher scored. | SEAHAWKS 2, CARDINALS 4
• B4 - La. Eilbacher homered to center field, 2 RBI; M. Fisher scored. | SEAHAWKS 2, CARDINALS 6
• T5 - Elliot Hamilton advanced to second on a balk; E. O'Rourke advanced to third on a balk; J. Harring scored on a balk. | SEAHAWKS 3, CARDINALS 6
• T8 - Grady Schopps reached first on an error by ss, advanced to second; Dylan Cimini scored, unearned. | SEAHAWKS 4, CARDINALS 6
• B8 - S. Burman homered to right field, RBI. J. Bateman reached on a fielder's choice, bunt, RBI; G. Ruiz advanced to second; Lo. Eilbache scored. La. Eilbache singled through the right side, RBI; J. Bateman advanced to third; G. Ruiz scored. | SEAHAWKS 3, CARDINALS 9
• T9 - Shea Donovan doubled to center field, 2 RBI; E. Hamilton scored; S. Williams scored. D. Cimini doubled through the right side, RBI; S. Donovan scored. | SEAHAWKS 7, CARDINALS 9

NOTEWORTHY

• Dylan Cimini went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI.
• Shea Donovan drove in two Seahawks with a two-out double in the left center gap in the top of the ninth.
• Joe DeRienzo struck out the first three Cardinals he faced in the eighth.
• Seahawks rank #5 in Perfect Game poll.
• Seahawks rank #10 in D3baseball.com/NCBWA poll.
• Seahawks rank #10 in ABCA poll.

NEXT UP
The Seahawks get a 1 p.m. start Saturday against Dickinson College in the fourth game of the Matt Kurkjian ALS Awareness Invitational at Talbot Field on FloCollege. It will be the third straight game (and final) for the Red Devils in the event. Salve Regina and Stevens are scheduled for the final matchup of the invitational on Saturday evening (7 p.m.) with weather forcing all games away from Sunday.