File photo – The St. Bernard’s Crusaders won a non-league game at Fortuna on Tuesday.

Mateo Gutierrez led the St. Bernard’s Crusaders to a 7-4 non-league win over the Huskies at Fortuna on Tuesday.

Gutierrez pitched six innings for the win on the mound and also finished 2-for-3 with a double and scored a run.

The senior team captain gave up four runs on 10 hits and two walks and struck out six.

The in-form Michael Manzi added a double and a run and pitched one scoreless inning for the save, as the Crusaders improved to 10-8-1 on the season.

“This was a nice win over a Big 5 team that has been playing good baseball,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said. “Mateo Gutierrez had a solid outing on the mound for the win and Manzi was outstanding in the seventh inning for the save.”

Tyler Hinrichs also had a good day at the plate for the visitors and finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while teammate Garrett Shanahan was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and also scored a run.

But it was the play of both teams’ catchers — St. Bernard’s Manzi and Fortuna’s Mariqus Ludd — that caught the attention of Tomlin.

“As a baseball fan we were all treated to a brilliant performance by both catchers,” he said. “It was great to see two amazing catchers have such a great game.”

Ludd threw out two runners and picked another off base, while Manzi threw out one base runner and picked one off base.

Kallen Barrote led the Huskies at the plate and finished with three hits, while Tyler Schlesiger and Ludd each finished with two hits.

File photo – The Fortuna Huskies

Tanner Franklin, Drew Franklin Cage Collins and Chandler Crenshaw each also had a hit in the loss, as the Huskies dropped to 6-11-1.

“Their pitcher pitched a good game,” Fortuna head coach Max Betts said. “We couldn’t get a timely hit.”

The Huskies have a bye in conference play this week, while the Crusaders will try to keep their Little 4 championship hopes going when they host Hoopa in a conference doubleheader on Friday.

Friday’s doubleheader is set for noon.