NEW LONDON, CT. – Leading 9-1 at the top of the sixth inning, the Wesleyan baseball team faced eight unanswered runs from Mitchell College before a home run with bases loaded in the eighth propelled Mitchell over Wesleyan in a 12-9 non-conference loss on Wednesday night from Mitchell's Alumni Field.

Certainly, an eight-run lead heading into the bottom half of the game would give cause for impending victory, but the Cardinals were not prepared for the slugfest that gave the Mariners 11 unanswered runs.

The Cardinals opened the game with a two-run lead in the first inning with Ernie Little '26 getting the first mark of the game. Little stole second base after an initial fielding error placed him on base on the first at bat. Little then stole third, this time with Jake Acker '27 at the plate. Little's run was scored on a sacrificed fly sent to center field by Jonah Timmons '27. Reaching second on another fielding error, Evan Diaz '25 made his way to third as Connor Sullivan sent a ball down the third base line, scoring on a Luke LaSaracina '25 single to right field.

Jack Carpenter '25 was the lone run for the Cardinals in the second inning, scoring as Acker singled left after being walked on his own at bat and stealing second base. The Mariners cut the scoring to a two-run differential; Nick Bracale credited with the run.

With a new pitcher on the mound for the Mariners, Nick Strojny for Jaden Canelli, LaSaracina doubled to the centerfielder only to be left there until Carpenter could advance him to third on a shortstop error. Little's next rotation was enough of a distraction to give LaSaracina room to reach home.

The bottom half of the game began with a home run nailed to center field by Timmons to put the Cardinals up by four. Diaz followed with a double but was left on base.

Taking their eight-run lead in the sixth, the Cardinals began their final ascent with Marcus Jang '26 stealing second. With Carpenter now on second after his walk as Little was hit at the plate, Acker earned his own walk and advanced Jang to home. With Timmons back through the rotation, Carpenter scored, Timmons hit by pitcher Thai-ler Sestokas. With bases loaded, Sullivan doubled a rocket to left field to put Little and Acker on the board again.

For the Cardinals, the bottom of the inning was the start of the Mariners' comeback while making a pitching change twice. Braeden Falzarano '26 relieved Malcolm Hsu '25 before three at bats saw Dariusz Lukowski '27 replace Falzarano. The Mariners scored three, nearly cutting the score in half.

Facing Sebastian Fuentes '28 on the mound, the Mariners drove four more runs on the Cardinals, bringing the score to just one run. Max Netto walked on a Lucca Frattone '27 pitch, now in for the Cardinals, placing Ethan Petrowski and Ryan Dennis on third and second. Petrowski walked while Dennis was hit by Fuentes. Frattone struck out the next batter but with all bases in action, Miller homered over the glove of LaSaracina in center field, earning the non-conference grand slam to give the Mariners a winning three-run lead and a 12-9 final score.

Little and Carpenter led the Cardinals with two runs and no hits on their game record, Little recording the RBI and three stolen bases. Timmons with the homer had three RBI on the night.

While Fuentes takes the loss, Hsu pitched five innings, finishing with a 3.18 ERA. Hsu struck out four, allowing just three runs.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday, April 4, when they travel to Middlebury for a NESCAC doubleheader with games beginning at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.