CLERMONT, Fla. – The Catholic University softball team began its spring break tournament with a split, falling to Roger Williams University 3-2 and then defeating Loras College 11-6.

Game 1: Roger Williams 3, Catholic 2

Senior Sabrina Scott got the start of the Cards in the circle, posting five innings and allowing three runs on six hits while junior Allie Lajeunesse closed by throwing the sixth with only one allowed hit. Five Cardinals put up eight hits on the board, including junior Makayla Czan and freshman Sammy Phillips who totaled two hits each. 

After Roger Williams scored first in the first inning, Catholic responded in the second when junior Juliet Lodes singled to center field. She batted around when classmate Taylor Forgen executed a sacrifice bunt to put Phillips in scoring position. Senior Kacie Badolato singled to left field to advance Phillips to third and a fielding error caused her to score, balancing the score at 1-1. 

The following inning caused the Hawks to score another run where Czan took charge with a double to left center. Czan advanced to third when freshman Katie Hurd laid down a bunt and Scott recorded an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field. 

The Hawks' next at bat would produce the game-winning run, as the remainder of the matchup was largely controlled by tough pitching and defense, not allowing another run to be scored.

Game 2: Catholic 11, Loras 7

Senior Claire Sturek started game two against Loras College on the mound, completing 5.1 innings with four strikeouts and six hits before Lajeunesse came in for the relief with 1.2 innings pitched. Seven Cardinals recorded hits with three of those hitters posting doubles. 

Catholic came out of the gate swinging with two runs scored by the end of the first inning with hits from Czan, Scott and junior McKenzie Plante to put the Cards up 2-0. Loras replied by taking the lead with three runs scored after stringing together several hits in the top of the second inning. 

The Cardinals' eight-run inning in the bottom of the third proved difficult for the Duhawks to take back control of the game. Scott's second double of the game kicked off the inning and paved the way for five more hits. Plante, Badalato, Czan, Hurd, Scott and Phillips recorded RBI's and closed the third with a score of 10-3. 

After two runs crossed the plate for Loras and two scoreless innings went by for Catholic, Lajeunesse entered the circle to finish the game for the Cardinals where she allowed the Duhawks' final two runs in the sixth and seventh, marking the final score as 11-7. 

Catholic resumes play in The Spring Games tomorrow to face Wheaton (Mass.) at 9am and Bates College beginning at 1:45pm.