KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The bats came alive for Catholic University softball to complement quality pitching en route to two wins at The Spring Games on Tuesday as the Cardinals downed Trinity (Conn.) and Haverford to move to 6-4 on the young season.

Game 1 — Catholic 6, Trinity 3

Freshman Alex Pley continued her brilliant start to the season in the circle, earning her fourth-consecutive win to move to 4-0 on the campaign.

She did have to overcome an early deficit as Trinity pushed one run across in the opening stanza. The Bantams were able to manufacture a run as a lead-off single, a stolen base and an error put an unearned run on Pley's statline.

Catholic responded immediately, however, plating a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Sophia Fike drew a walk to start the game and head coach Sophie Maccarone elected to play smallball to ensure the Cardinals drew level. Fike was advanced by a Mia Szap sacrifice but prior to Katie Scolese being hit by a pitch. Elise Faxon pushed Fike to third with a fly out before a Scolese steal forced the Bantam catcher to throw down to second, allowing Fike to prance home and tie the game.

The contest remained level until the fourth inning when Amy Gastright took the first pitch of her at-bat to center field, plating 2023 all-region outfielder Alex Garza who scored from all the way from first base on the double.

The Bantams drew level immediately in the next half inning, again aided by a Cardinal defensive mishap. A two-out error allowed Gianna Tito, who was running on contact, to score all the way from first on a ball hit to center field.

The Cardinal bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth, when Maccarone's team got to starting pitcher Kaysen Shika. After Fike again began the inning with a base hit, Szap reached safely on a bunt single. The pair advanced on a passed ball before a Scolese ground ball earned her an RBI and put the Cardinals ahead. Faxon then cashed in with a single and forced the Bantam's starter to the bench. Szap eventually came home on another passed ball to extend the lead to 5-2. 

The two teams traded single runs in the sixth before Pley shut the door with a three-up, three-down seventh inning. The right-hander allowed just one earned run on four hits over the seven frames to ensure her ERA for the season remained below 1.00 at an exceptional 0.68.

Game 2 — Catholic 7, Haverford 2

The Cardinals jumped on Haverford immediately, hitting the Fords for two runs before they even stepped into the batter's box.

Fike led off the game with a triple to right field and came home on a wild pitch before Kayleigh Bodak could register an out. The Cardinals were then able to manufacture a two-out tally as Faxon drew a walk with two away. Garza then produced a clutch double to left field to plate the freshman.

Aubrynn Arcement was handed the ball for game two and delivered a start of the highest order. The sophomore had to work out of a jam in the first, however, when the Fords had two runners in scoring position with less than two outs. Arcement got the job done, producing a one-out groundout that kept the runners stationary before supplying another clutch bounce out to return to the dugout unharmed.

Both pitchers kept further runs off of the board until Arcement helped her own cause in the fourth when she was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. It looked like she may be stranded as Bodak got back-to-back outs before more two-out production paid dividends for the Cardinals. This time it was Toni Ruley who came through with another triple to score Arcement and extend the lead.

It was the same story as game number one for the Cardinals as they Haverford for multiple runs in the fifth inning. Scolese, Szap, Arcement and Kerri Hatcliffe all scored to push the Catholic lead to 7-0.

The Cardinal shutout went by the wayside in the final inning when the Fords plated two unearned runs. Arcement did not allow an earned run and did not walk a batter, only giving up six hits, meaning the two Cardinals combined to allow just one earned run over 14.0 innings on the day.

Catholic will enjoy an off day tomorrow before battling Swarthmore and Hope on Thursday in Clermont. First pitch against the Garnet is set for 9 a.m.