WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Catholic University softball team opened its 2020 season with a doubleheader defeat to Messiah on Saturday afternoon, losing the first game 3-1 and the second 4-1 in extra innings. 

The Cardinals (0-2) could not muster enough timely hitting in a couple close contests on a frigid afternoon in the nation's capital. Senior Sabrina Scott led the team with three hits, including a solo homerun, and a strong pitching performance, but Messiah out-hit Catholic 14-8 for the sweep. 

Game 1: Messiah 3 | Catholic 1 

Messiah (2-4) got on the board in the first inning after two walks and an infield single got one run across. A solo homerun made the game 2-0 in the fourth inning. 

After the Falcons added a third run in the top half of the fifth, Scott went deep for her team's first hit of the afternoon to cut the lead in half.

Sammy Phillips and Giselle Diaz added singles in the fifth inning but the Cardinals were not able to continue the rally as Messiah held on 3-1 for its first win of the year.

Scott held the Falcons to just three hits in the contest, striking out four in seven innings of work. Four walks and the solo homerun was enough for the visiting team to earn a win in game one. 

Game 2: Messiah 4 | Catholic 1 - 8 Innings

Catholic scored first in another tightly-contested affair, but Messiah equalized and then had their best inning of the afternoon with a three-run eighth inning to win in extras. 

Sophomore Marissa Bruder led off with a walk and then stole second to get into scoring position. After a groundout moved the runner to third, Scott brought her in with an RBI infield single. 

The Falcons tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth, and then neither team scored in the next few innings to send the game into extras. 

Messiah rallied off four consecutive hits to bring in three runs and take a commanding lead in the eighth inning. The Cardinals stranded their two runners on base in the bottom half of the inning to end the game 4-1. 

Freshman pitcher Katie Hurd impressed in her collegiate debut, scattering 11 hits and allowing just one run in seven innings before the eighth. She also struck out four and did not walk a batter.  

The Cardinals travel to Florida for their next action in The Spring Games. Catholic will play ten games during spring break, starting on Saturday, March 7 with a game against Roger Williams at 4:15 p.m.