HARTFORD, CT. -  Traveling just up the road for a Sunday afternoon non-conference matchup, the Wesleyan baseball team fell to the University of Saint Joseph in 12-1 final that saw James Marsden '26 score late in the eighth inning.

Playing under clouds and a spring cold front, the game was slow to the opening run as neither team was able to gain much ground. Jack Carpenter '25 was the first baserunner for the Cardinals (8-16 overall), singling to third base but would be left there on the next three at bats. Reaching the top of the third, Ernie Little '26 hit a single down through the left side before stealing second but the Cardinals had just one out to go.

The Blue Jays (18-11 overall) crushed three runs in the bottom of the inning, Ben Balducci, Jack Kane, and JJ Fox all credited with a tally at home plate. Joe Gratto and Tyler Carlstrom pushed the lead over the Cardinals to five runs, putting up two more points for the Blue Jays before Fox and Ryan Shaw bumped the lead to 7-0 in the seventh.

Facing the top of the eighth, Marsden was walked by Ozzie Webber as the second batter of the inning. The centerf ielder advanced to second base as Will Moore '26 nailed a pitch to right center field. Little's fielder's choice placed Marsden at third, Marsden stole home to finally get the Cardinals into the scoring race with Little on his heels for second.

Scoring four runs in the final inning of the afternoon, the Blue Jays jumped to a final 12-1 lead as Fox scored his third run to close out. Carlstrom, Balducci, and Jack Kushman rounded out the scoring.

David Tirrell '25 pitched just over five innings as the starting pitcher for the Cardinals, dropping four runs as she struck out five batters.

The Cardinals return to action on Wednesday, April 16, for a road matchup with Coast Guard beginning at 3:30 p.m.