SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Catholic softball and Susquehanna traded 4-1 victories on Sunday afternoon to open up Landmark Conference play after a one-day postponement. 

GAME ONE: Catholic 4-1 Susquehanna

A strong performance from senior Katie Hurd in the circle led the Cardinals to victory in game one.

Hurd allowed five hits and just one run during the complete-game effort. Hurd was very efficient, tossing just 87 pitches in the impressive performance and striking out five batters. Hurd did not allow a hit through her first 3.2 innings pitched.

It also was a story of balanced production in the batter's box for Catholic as hitters four through seven in Bruce McConkey's line-up all registered one RBI a piece.

Catholic got the scoring started in the second inning when, after a Katie Scolese lead-off single, senior Sarah Spaeth tripled down the right-field line. Spaeth then scored when Hailee Weiss followed with a single. Hurd then shut the door in the bottom of the inning, sending the River Hawks down one-two-three.

The Cardinals added one more in the third, taking advantage of back-to-back knocks to begin the frame. After Sophia Fike singled up the middle, impressive freshman Aubrynn Arcement doubled to right field. With two runners now in scoring position, Scolese lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.

After Susquehanna trimmed the Cardinal lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Catholic immediately restored its three-run advantage in the next half-inning. This time it was Arcement whose sacrifice fly scored Amanda Gomez.

The River Hawks gave it their best effort in the bottom of the seventh before Hurd and Catholic shut the door. With one out, Kassidy Smith reached base after being hit by a pitch. Nicole Plesh then singled to right field but Alex Garza fired the ball to Fike, beating Smith to the bag for a forceout. Hurd then secured the win by causing the next batter to fly out.

Six Cardinals registered a hit in the victory as Fike lead the with, going 3-for-4 at the dish.

GAME TWO: Catholic 1-4 Susquehanna

The Catholic lineup rapped nine hits but plated just one run in game two as it fell short in a 4-1 defeat to the River Hawks. Garza and Fike each had a pair of singles, but Caroline Adams had the lone RBI for the Cardinals. 

Susquehanna took the lead in the first, scoring a run against Arcement who started game two for Catholic. After an error and a single, the River Hawks converted on a double steal attempt with Hailey Kaba crossing home plate to put them ahead by a run. 

The contest's next run didn't come until the top of the sixth as Catholic tied the contest at 1-1. Scolese singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a pinch-hit single off the bat of Kaitlyn Murphy. Adams pinch-hit for Amy Gastright and singled to right, scoring Scolese. 

Kaba singled off of Arcement to start the bottom of the sixth, forcing Arcement from the game for Olivia Stinchcomb. After a walk and a passed ball, the River Hawks took the lead on a sacrifice fly. A two-run double later in the inning would be the final damage in a 4-1 victory. 

Catholic sits at 11-6 on the season while Susquehanna is 8-8. The Cardinals will play their first home contest of the year on Thursday afternoon when Rutgers-Camden comes to town.