KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Catholic softball got strong performances in the circle on Thursday but dropped a pair of one-run contests to Otterbein and Husson on its second to last day in Florida. Catholic sits at 5-5 through the first 10 games of the 2023 season. 

GAME ONE - Catholic 0-1 Otterbein

Katie Hurd and Justina Benvenuto combined to allow just five hits and one run on Thursday morning, but the Catholic bats couldn't get to Otterbein starter Bryn Grabowski in a 1-0 contest. Hurd tossed the opening four frames of the game, allowing four hits and striking out three while Benvenuto pitched a pair of scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. 

Alex Garza, Sophia Fike, and Aubrynn Arcement each recorded hits, but Grabowski didn't issue a single free pass and struck out 10 to earn the win. Sage Jenkings homered in the first inning to give Otterbein a 1-0 lead, but the scoring stopped there.

Garza picked up the first hit of the game for Catholic in the fourth and moved into scoring position on a sac bunt from Amanda Gomez, but Grabowski retired the next two hitters to keep the game 1-0. 

Arcement recorded a pinch-hit single in the sixth, with pinch-runner Samantha Grillo moving up on another sac bunt, but once again Grabowski retired the final two Cardinal batters. 

Fike doubled to lead off the seventh, but after a pair of strikeouts, Sarah Spaeth lined out to the third baseman, ending the game as the Cardinals fell 1-0. 

GAME TWO - Catholic 2-3 Husson

In game two versus Husson, Catholic scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning but fell just short in its comeback attempt. Husson scored three runs across the third and fourth innings against Arcement who started game two in the circle for the Cardinals. 

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Catholic got a little help from the Husson defense to start its rally as Garza reached first on a throwing error. Gomez singled to right center, moving Garza over to third for Fike. Fike hit a flyball to left that was misplayed, allowing Garza to score and putting two Catholic runners on with nobody out. With both runners moving up on a passed ball, Katie Scolese brought home Gomez with a groundout to short, making it 3-2. Olivia Stinchcomb popped up to end the inning.

Catholic put another runner in scoring position in the seventh after a Grace Tolle double with one out. With two away and Hailee Weiss pinch-running, Garza singled to center, but Weiss had to hold at third, and a flyout from Gomez ended the contest, 3-2. 

Stinchcomb pitched three perfect innings of relief, striking out four in the process.