Staff photo / Neel Madhavan. Cardinal Mooney sophomore Johnny Brenner pitches during the Cardinals' victory over Ursuline on Tuesday at Bob Cene Park.

STRUTHERS — Cardinal Mooney knows what to expect every time Johnny Brenner takes the mound.

“We know every time Johnny’s out there, he’s going to give us a chance,” Mooney head coach Eddie Reese said. “He’s going to pound the zone and let his defense work. He’s a bulldog.”

The lefty sophomore showed why he’s the Cardinals’ ace on Tuesday, as he threw six complete innings to lead the Mooney to a 3-1 victory over rival Ursuline at Bob Cene Park.

“It takes all nine of us,” Reese said. “As long as you throw over the plate and give our defense a chance to make plays (then we can win), and that’s what we did. It’s a team victory.”

Brenner was crisp in his deliveries, he didn’t stray from the strike zone and he kept the Irish hitters guessing all evening. He threw about 117 pitches, giving up three hits, striking out 10 batters and only walking four.

In the second and fourth innings, Brenner was perfect, quickly striking out the side in each frame.

“I think the thing is he commanded well — he pitched a heck of a game,” Irish head coach Paul Kempe said. “He had our guys off balance. We put some pressure on him early and through the middle of the game and he never wavered, got them out of big situations, so a ton of credit to him.”

Ursuline had its chances against Brenner in the first, fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but wasn’t able to convert. The Irish ended up leaving 10 runners on base for the game.

“Left 10 guys on base against a good baseball team — you can’t do that,” Kempe said. “We just did not have a timely hit, and credit to them, they had those timely hits. That’s kind of where we are right now. … They took advantage putting the ball in play and getting guys in at crucial times.”

In the first inning, the Irish quickly loaded the bases. Thomas Pesa scored Ursuline’s first and only run of the game with an RBI fielder’s choice, but Brenner was able to minimize the damage done from there.

Ursuline loaded the bases again in the fifth inning after three straight walks from Brenner, but with two outs already on the board, a pop foul to first base ended the threat.

After six innings from Brenner, freshman Taco Verroco entered in relief for Mooney. In the top of the seventh, the Irish had the game tying runs in scoring position after Cambert stole second, but a deep fly out to left field put the game on ice for the Cardinals.

“When Johnny pitches, Taco comes in in relief,” Reese said. “Johnny took us as far as he can go, and he did a great job. Taco came in — in a high-pressure situation for a freshman — and did very well.”

On the flip side, Mooney did exactly what Ursuline could not at the plate. The Cardinals only finished with five hits, but they made them count.

“I think we made plays when we had to,” Reese said. “We had some clutch hitting, some good base running. In a two-run ballgame, it’s the little things that make that difference (for us).”

Ben Oddis spurred the Cardinals’ offense at the plate. He finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

In the first inning, with Kaden Reese in scoring position at second, Oddis belted a grounder that brought Kaden home. Then in the third inning, with two outs on the board, Oddis blasted a deep ball into the outfield between two Ursuline players that allowed Vince Gentile to score from first base.

“I think the difference between the first game and now is just that we’re competing a little bit more at home plate,” Eddie said. “We recognize the pitches, we’re being more disciplined and we’re putting the bat on the ball a little more square.”

Now with a record of 2-4, Mooney is scheduled to visit Chaney today at 5 p.m. After falling to 1-2, the Irish will host Bristol at the same time.

Have an interesting story? Contact Neel Madhavan by email at nmadhavan@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @NeelMadhavan.