TUCSON, AZ. – Following a loss in the season opener on Sunday afternoon, the Wesleyan baseball team was able to reach double digits in the 13-11 loss to Crown College but could not return much momentum in a 10-5 defeat to Carthage College in Monday's doubleheader from the Kinos Sports Complex.

Despite the losses, Monday's action was highlighted by another career achievement for second baseman, Ernie Little '26. Posing three hits against the Polar Bears and the Firebirds, Little became the 56^th Cardinal to record 100 hits. He joins teammate Luke LaSaracina '25 and head coach Mark Woodworth '94.

Gaining an early but short-lived lead, the Cardinals were first to the board in the first inning. With only Little remaining on third base after singling on the first hit of the game, Evan Diaz's '25 double was enough to send Little home. The Bears tied the game up at the bottom of the first, but with Jack Carpenter '25 and Tyler Cosgrove '25 on first and second, freshman Troy Ashkinos' '28 homer gave the Cardinals a three-point lead in the second.

Cutting the score in half, the Bears began their slow crawl to tie game. Two doubles at the top of the third kept the Cardinals on top, Diaz making the rounds to second before Cosgrove doubled to right field for Diaz's run. The Cardinals would not score again until the seventh inning with the Bears scoring on a homer shortly after and taking the lead in the fifth on a sacrificed fly.

The Bears held a four-point lead over the Cardinals prior to James Marsden's '26 run on another double by Diaz. With Diaz now on second, William Moore '26, pinch hitting for Christian Boudreau '25, found his own double to center for Diaz to score. Moore tied the game at nine, but it did not deter the Bears from their lead, scoring three more runs in the seventh.

With the second play of the final inning, Carpenter's run began as he was walked, advancing to second on a wild pitch by Drew Girtz. Ashkinos, back up to the plate, singled to right field and gave enough time for Carpenter to march home before Ashkinos earned his own run on a single by LaSaracina.

The Cardinals totaled 15 hits with Carpenter, Diaz, and Ashkinos finishing with three-hit games. All three recorded two-run games while Ashkino's lead the Cardinals with four RBI and the home run. Diaz's three doubles led all Cardinals.

Kevin Brown '28 pitched three innings in his first outing at the mound with the Cardinals, striking out six as he saw five hits and four runs. Marsden allowed four runs through two innings, striking out two. Dariusz Lukowski '27 allowed one run and struck out three through another two innings.

Game two saw the Firebirds leave the Cardinals behind, posting four runs before the Cardinals were finally able to score at the bottom of the third thanks to Connor Sullivan '26 on a passed ball. Sullivan hit up third base with Little singling to center. LaSaracina struck out on the next play but was able to advance, giving Sullivan the time needed to reach home. Little followed suit on a wild pitch as Diaz was up to bat, cutting the score in half. LaSaracina made it a one-point game on Carpenter's single to left field.

Through five more innings, the Firebirds collected only three runs as Lucca Frattone '27 struck out two before being relieved at the top of the sixth by Malcolm Hsu '26. The ninth inning would be the last of the scoring for either team, the Firebirds now up by seven with three runs at the top. Sullivan singled on the first pitch to the Cardinals with Ashkinos advancing on an error. Little loaded the bases, bunting a single to left field, leaving LaSaracina next in the rotation. LaSaracina singled out right, Sullivan and Ashkinos cutting the final score to 10-5.

Sullivan led all Cardinals with two runs and two hits on three at bats. LaSaracina went one and one on hits and runs but loaded two RBI.

Frattone pitched five innings in his first start of the season for the Cardinals. Striking out four, Frattone allowed six hits and six runs. Hsu pitched three more innings allowing just one run.

The Cardinals return to action on Wednesday, March 12, when they play Rockford in Tucson at 6 p.m.