WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Catholic University softball team opened its home schedule on Thursday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with Rutgers-Camden. The Cardinals fell 2-1 in the first contest before bouncing back with a 4-0 win in game two. 

GAME ONE - Catholic 1-2 Rutgers-Camden

In a game one pitcher's duel, Catholic totaled four hits and scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Rutgers-Camden scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to earn the 2-1 victory. Sophia Fike, Aubrynn Arcement, Katie Scolese, and Sarah Spaeth singled in the game for Catholic. Alex Garza and Hailee Weiss reached base via walk versus Scarlet Raptors' starter Lindsey Rodzon who pitched a complete game and allowed just one unearned run. 

Starting Pitcher Katie Hurd pitched 4.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out four for Catholic while Justina Benvenuto relieved her and tossed 3.0 perfect innings. The Scarlet Raptors scored two runs in the fourth with help from a wild hop. With the bases loaded and one out, Jayden Hunter hit a sharp grounder to second that took a sharp hop off the dirt past Weiss who then collided with the base runner. Two runs were scored to make it a 2-0 game. 

Caroline Adams reached on an error to start the bottom of the fifth inning and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Garza grounded out, moving Adams up to third before Amanda Gomez brought in a run with an RBI ground out. That was all the Cardinals could muster as they trailed 2-1 heading to the sixth. Scolese singled in the bottom of the sixth, but a double play ended the inning and the Cardinals were retired in order in the seventh. 

GAME TWO - Catholic 4-0 Rutgers-Camden

Arcement started game two in the circle and was tremendous for Catholic, tossing a complete game shutout with three strikeouts. Arcement didn't allow her first hit until the top of the sixth when she allowed a pair of singles, but Garza and Spaeth combined to throw out Emily Dubiago at home as she tried to score on a single to left, keeping the shutout intact. 

Catholic totaled just four hits once again, but the Cardinals drew six walks in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the third before tacking on three more in the fifth. 

Adams led off the third with an infield single before swiping second. Garza followed with a single up the middle to push Adams to third. Adams got stuck in no man's land on a squeeze attempt and was tagged out to keep the game scoreless. After a passed ball put both runners in scoring position, freshman Kerri Hatcliffe, who entered the game for an injured Fike, was hit by a pitch, loading up the bases for Arcement. Arcement picked up an RBI as she drew a bases-loaded walk and Catholic led 1-0. 

In the fifth, Weiss led it off with a single followed by back-to-back walks issued to Hatcliffe and Arcement. With one away, Spaeth doubled down the line in left, scoring two runs to extend the lead to 3-0. Grace Tolle hit a sharp grounder to third, but Luci Hutchinson threw it away and Spaeth came in to score. 

With a couple of hits in today's games, Garza continues to lead the team in batting average (.362) and on-base percentage (.434). Arcement moved into a tie for the team lead in RBI with 13. Spaeth's sixth double of the year puts her in a tie for the most extra-base hits on the team with eight. 

Catholic pitching has continued to be outstanding as the team sits with an ERA of 1.71. Arcement tied Hurd for the team lead with four wins while both sit with ERAs of 1.52 or better. 

With rain in the forecast for Saturday, Catholic will host Drew on Sunday, April 2 at 1 p.m.