WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic University softball team dropped a Landmark Conference doubleheader to Susquehanna on Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals (13-15, 5-7 LC) allowed runs in the first inning of both games and were ultimately unable to bounce back. 

Game 1: Susquehanna 4, Catholic 1

Susquehanna (25-7, 11-1 LC) struck early, when, after back-to-back walks, a Kiara Johnson triple to the right-center-field gap scored two. A two-out single then plated Johnson and gave the River Hawks an advantage before Catholic stepped up to bat. 

The Cardinals were able to respond immediately, scoring what turned out to be their only run of the game in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Sophia Fike led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout by freshman Amanda Gomez. Junior Katie Hurd then walked before a double from junior Sammy Phillips scored Fike and pushed Hurd to third base. However, Hurd would be stranded after a pop out and a strikeout killed the Cardinal threat. 

Johnson struck again in the third, as she manufactured a run on the basepaths. After being hit by a pitch to start the inning, she stole second with ease. She was then able to score on a Zoe Bork single when she initially held at third but then chose to advance on the throw.

Sophomore Justina Benvenuto was excellent in relief, pitching the fifth and sixth innings, not allowing a hit and striking out two. 

Hurd got the loss in the circle, dropping her to 8-7 on the season. The Susquehanna duo of Gabby Bubba and Katie Murphy did not allow a hit after the first inning. Bubba got the win.

Game 2: Susquehanna 9, Catholic 1 (5 Innings)

It was the same story for the Cardinals, as they allowed five runs before they even had the opportunity to step in the batter's box. After Hurd made an outstanding over-the-shoulder catch near the wall in left field for the second out of the inning, the River Hawks strung together four straight singles to do the damage. 

Again, Catholic plated one run in the bottom of the inning. This time it was graduate student Allie Lajeunesse who came through with a two-out single to score Gomez.

Susquehanna was able to add three more in the top of the second, courtesy of a Bork two-RBI double and a Morgan Henry RBI groundout.

The highlight of the game for the Cardinals came in the top of the third inning. With the leadoff runner aboard at first base, junior Sarah Spaeth reacted brilliantly to a bunt attempt by Hailey Kaba. The third baseman began to charge, realizing the bunt was on, and made a full-extension, diving catch about five feet outside the batter's box on the third base line to gather in the ball before it touched the ground. She quickly fired to first base to knab the runner and complete a dazzling double play.

The River Hawks were able to push across one more in the top of the fifth and hold Catholic in the bottom of the inning to end the game. The Cardinals threatened, but Spaeth was thrown out at the plate when attempting to score from second base on a Fike single. 

Benvenuto started game two and took the loss, dropping her to 5-8 on the season. Gabby Bubba started again and claimed another win, pushing her to 11-4 on the year.

Fike went 3-for-6 on the day with two singles, one double and a run scored, and accounted for more than half of Catholic's total hits. Sophomore Hailee Weiss drew two walks in game one, batting in the nine spot.

With the victories, Susquehanna claimed a Landmark Conference regular-season title and the opportunity to host the conference tournament, which will begin on Friday, May 6. Catholic also qualified for the double-elimination tournament, earning the four seed, and will travel to Sassafras Field to face off against Susquehanna at 1 p.m. on Friday.

The Cardinals will close out the regular season tomorrow, when they host a doubleheader against Hood College on senior day. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. with senior day programming taking place prior to the start of game one.