CITRUS RIDGE, Fla. — The Saint Mary's baseball team (6-5) fell to Hope College (4-7) in a 5-3 loss on Saturday in the spring break finale. The Cardinals took an early lead with runs in the first and second innings but were unable to sustain their offense, managing only six hits. 

Hope responded with a three-run fourth inning and added two more runs in the sixth to secure the victory.

Josh Costello led the team with two hits and drove in two runs, finishing with a 1.000 OPS. Ryan Csida showcased his speed by securing two stolen bases. Daniel Sherman contributed with a hit and a run scored, along with two assists in the field. 

Eric Stomberg pitched six innings, recording four strikeouts while allowing five earned runs.

Saint Mary's started strong, gaining an early advantage with productive at-bats. In the first inning, Gavin Schulte was hit by a pitch and later scored on a single by Jack Anderson. The second inning featured Csida's aggressive base running, stealing both second and third, before scoring on Costello's single. 

Costello also delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning, cutting the deficit after Hope's three-run rally.

Hope seized the game in the sixth inning, breaking a 3-3 tie with a two-run burst. A hit-by-pitch set the stage, and after a fielder's choice, Hope capitalized with a pair of RBI singles. Despite a solid defensive effort, the Cardinals couldn't halt the momentum shift.

The Cardinals couldn't muster additional runs in the late innings. A promising chance in the fifth ended with bases loaded, and further opportunities were thwarted by Hope's defense, sealing the outcome.

The Cardinals next game will be at Millikin on Saturday, March 14 for a 10:00 a.m. game time.