SCRANTON, Pa. - The Catholic University softball team was swept by Scranton University 8-0, 5-3 on Saturday. 

The Cardinals (11-4, 11-4 LC) tallied 10 hits across both games, including senior Makayla Czan who went 3-for-7 in the losses. Today's hits mark a nine-game hit streak and a 16-game on base streak for the center fielder, including the second-highest batting average in the Landmark at .566. 

Sophomore Katie Hurd, freshman Justina Benvenuto and senior Allie Lajeunesse all shared time in the circle. 

Scranton 8, Catholic 0 (Six Innings): 

Catholic struggled to get their offense going in game one, recording only two hits. Hurd started on the mound, giving up seven runs on 10 hits through five innings pitched. 

The first inning was scoreless until the Royals' bats got going in the bottom of the second. Scranton was able to jump ahead with a 2-0 lead off two hits. 

A single by junior Bella Ronca led off the top of the third, but her teammates were unable to bring her home for a run. Scranton lengthened their lead with another two runs off three hits heading into the fourth for a 4-0 defecit. 

Czan's single to right field would go unscored in the top of the sixth during Catholic's last chance to get some runs on the board. The Royals' offense exploded with a four-run rally, run-ruling Catholic 8-0. 

Hurd was relieved by Benvenuto who pitched 0.2 innings, facing four batters and striking out one. 

Scranton 5, Catholic 3: 

Catholic's at-bats proved to be more beneficial in game two with eight total hits scattered across seven innings of play, but the late rally was not enough to get in front of Scranton. 

Lajeunsse started on the mound for the Cardinals, giving up a two-run homerun in the bottom of the first. Another two runs scored off four hits allowed for Scranton's early 4-0 lead heading into the third. 

The Royals' defense blocked the Cardinals' from pushing any runs across the plate in the bottom of the third with two runners in scoring position. A pair of singles by sophomore Sarah Spaeth and senior Taylor Forgen and a walk by Ronca was not enough pressure on Scranton with three Cardinals left on base. 

A three-run rally came for Catholic in the top of the fourth when senior McKenzie Plante singled through to the left side followed by a single from sophomore Heather Berberich which advanced Plante to second. The pair took advantage of a wild pitch to put themselves into scoring position. 

A single by Spaeth followed by a double from Czan drove in three runs for the Birds for a 5-3 score with three innings to go. Two opportunities were left on the basepaths for Catholic but were not brought back home. 

Lajeunesse took the loss after 2.0 innings pitched, falling to 4-2. She allowed five runs on six hits with one strikeout. Benvenuto came in for the relief again, pitching four innings and allowing five hits and no runs with one strikeout. 

The Cardinals return to the District to host the Royals tomorrow beginning at 1:00 p.m.