Five-run first propels Cards past Baycats

BARRIE --  Five first-inning runs propelled the Hamilton Cardinals to a 9-5 win over the Barrie Baycats Thursday night at Coates Stadium. 

After their big opening inning -- in which three runs were unearned because of the first of four Barrie errors -- the Cards added three more in the third inning and held on as the Baycats chipped away. 

Austin Wheeler went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run leading off for Hamilton (4-3). Ryan Burnside singled, doubled and had an RBI, and Justin Gideon and Josh Niles drove in the other runs. 

Ben Braun (2-1) allowed three runs on nine hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four. 

Branfy Infante homered in the loss. Noel McGarry-Doyle, Ryan Rijo, and Jeff Cowan each had two hits and an RBI. 

Hunter Campese (0-1) took the loss. Three of the eight runs he gave up happened through two innings.

Barrie dropped to 3-2.