SCRANTON, Pa. - The number three-seeded Catholic University softball team traveled to Scranton University for the Landmark Conference tournament on Saturday. The Cardinals faced Drew University in game one where they defeated the Rangers 14-0 and later were victorious over the Royals 4-1 for their strongest postseason start since 2014. 

Catholic totaled 22 hits on the day while senior Makayla Czan led the offense when she went 5-for-7 at the plate with three doubles. Additionally, she now boasts a .545 batting average, the highest in the Landmark. 

Sophomore Katie Hurd, senior Allie Lajeunesse and freshman Justina Benvenuto all saw time in the circle for Catholic where Hurd claimed both wins. 

Catholic 14, Drew 0 (Five innings): 

Catholic started off strong with three runs scored off two hits in the bottom of the first. Czan put herself in scoring position with a double to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior Juliet Lodes walked and then stole second for two Cardinals on the basepaths which were brought home by senior Giselle Diaz's two-run RBI-single. Lajeunesse stepped up with a sacrifice fly to center field which allowed Diaz to score for a 3-0 lead over the Rangers. 

The bottom of the second brought in three more runs off three hits when junior Bella Ronca and Czan led off with a pair of singles. Sophomore Sammy Phillips followed up with a walk that scored Czan. 

A fielding error put in play by Lajeunesse allowed for Phillips and Diaz to score unearned, giving the Cardinals a comfortable 6-0 lead heading into the third. 

Catholic's offense exploded when seven more runs crossed the plate from six Cardinal bats at the bottom of the third. After three doubles in a row by Ronca, Czan and Lodes scored two runs, Diaz and Phillips both walked and loaded the bases with only one out.

Sophomore Heather Berberich singled to left to score Lodes and Phillips reached on a fielding error and scored Diaz. A pair of RBIs from Lajeunesse and senior McKenzie Plante scored two more runs. Sophomore Sarah Spaeth blasted her first career RBI-triple to end the inning. Catholic led Drew by 13 runs. 

The Cardinals' 14th and final run was a result of a single to left center by Lajeunesse that scored freshman Alex Garza for the convincing win. Drew only produced two hits which could not be converted into runs to avoid the shutout. 

Hurd took the win with 4.0 innings pitched and recorded three strikeouts in 14 batters faced. Lajeunesse threw 1.0 inning where she faced four batters and allowed one hit. The Cardinals prepared to face Scranton in game two. 

Catholic 4, Scranton 1 (Eight innings): 

Game two proved to be an upset when third-seeded Catholic defeated second-seeded Scranton for a three-run victory in extra innings. 

After a scoreless first three innings, the Cardinals were the first to get on the board when Diaz hit an RBI-single to right field and scored Ronca. Catholic kept a steady lead over Scranton until the bottom of the sixth when the Royals' offense scored one run to even the score to 1-1.

No runs scored by either side after the seventh called for extra innings. The Cardinals stepped up big time where they scored three runs off four hits in the top of the eighth for the 4-1 lead. 

Czan started off the inning with a walk and was advanced to second from Lodes' single up the middle. A single by Diaz to center field allowed for Czan to score from second and Catholic took the lead 2-1. 

Another single by Phillips drove in freshman pinch runner Caroline Adams for a two-run deficit over the Royals. With sophomore Elizabeth Dew and Berberich occupying first and second, Lajeunesse was able to put the ball in play with a single to left field and scored Dew. With that, the Cards lead the Royals 4-1. 

At the bottom of the eighth, the Catholic defense recorded a three up, three final inning for the victory. Benvenuto pitched 6.0 innings and allowed only a single run to score on eight hits with one strikeout. Hurd threw the remaining 2.0 innings where she faced eight batters and struck out one. She took the win and improved to 7-3 on the mound for the Cardinals.

Catholic will face Scranton again tomorrow morning beginning at 10 a.m. for the next round of Landmark playoff games.