WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Marymount University baseball team completed its season-opening series with Cairn University on Sunday afternoon, earning its third-straight win, 6-3, over the Highlanders.

Behind another strong start on the mound, the Saints were able to take an early lead. Junior Stephen Gerade earned his first win of the year with five-strong innings on the mound, allowing only one run and striking out five.

Gerade only allowed two Highlander hits through the first-three innings, while the Saints' offense built a lead with three runs in the bottom of the second.

Junior Casey Baker led off with a triple, and sophomore Ryan Lee walked to get runners on the corners. A double steal brought Baker home for the game's first run. Lee followed for the 2-0 lead on the next at-bat, as junior Bill Wojcik ripped a double down the left-field line.

Wojcik came around to score on an error to take the three-run lead.

Cairn got its first run in the fourth on a home run, but the Saints added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth.

Senior Mike Ferrara doubled to start the fifth, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Bryce Smith.

In the sixth, sophomore Alex Lemery got a hold of one for a two-run homer to left field, after classmate Ryan Maylie singled to get a runner on.

Senior Will DiGiulian came in on the mound for three-scoreless innings of relief to keep the Saints' lead in tact. He struck out five in the effort.

Cairn was able to get two runs across in the ninth in a comeback effort, but senior Kenny Sysyn notched the final two outs of the game for the save.

The Saints will be back in action on Saturday, February 22 in a doubleheader against Arcadia University at Nationals Youth Baseball Academy; the first pitch is set for 12 p.m.