WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic University softball team picked up two impressive victories over Washington College on Wednesday, outscoring the Shorewomen 11-4.
Game One — Catholic 2-0 Washington College
The Cardinals picked up a shutout win in game one of the doubleheader behind an by an incredible performance in the circle by Aubrynn Arcement.
The sophomore twirled a gem, throwing her second complete-game shutout of the season. She allowed just five hits over the 7.0 innings and did not walk a batter. With the win, Arcement moves to 4-4 with a 2.63 ERA and has only walked six batters in 45.1 innings pitched.
Catholic continued its early-season trend of scoring in the opening frame as it plated its decisive runs in the first inning. Head coach Sophie Maccarone enacted some aggressive baserunning to apply immediate pressure to the Shorewomen defense. Sophia Fike continued her high-level production in the lead-off spot with a double before Alex Garza took a two-strike pitch to right field to put runners on the corners with no outs.
Then, Maccarone sent Garza in an attempt to steal second, drawing a throw from the Shorewomen catcher. Fike then dashed home, beating the return throw to put the Cardinals ahead.
Katie Scolese came up next and reached on an error to put runners on first and third again. Catholic utilized the exact same tactic, again drawing a throw to second. This time Washington College got the runner at second but Garza pranced home to double the lead as the Cardinals traded an out for a run.
The game remained tight throughout as the Cardinals did leave some runners on base. Catholic loaded the bases with one out in the first inning but could not add the 2-0 lead and did the same in the sixth inning before a double play ended that threat.
The biggest chance for the Shorewomen came in the top of the third inning when back-to-back singles put runners on first and second with one out and the top of the order at the plate. Mia Mavoides grounded a hard-hit ball toward the shortstop where Scolese fielded cleanly, tagged out the lead runner and fired to first to complete a huge double play.
Game Two — Catholic 9-4 Washington College
The Catholic bats came alive in game two as every Cardinal contributed to the offensive success.
Every Cardinal in the starting lineup reached base safely as all but one recorded a hit. Hailee Weiss was the only player who did not record a hit, but she did not fail to contribute as she drew a walk, reached on an error and scored a run.
Washington College got on the board first when the nine hitter came up big for the Shorewomen with an RBI single in the second inning.
Catholic responded when the top of the order came to bat in the top half of the third inning. With Fike on first after a lead-off single, Toni Ruley put down a perfect bunt to reach first safely as Fike never stopped running, rounding second and flying to third. She forced a throw on which Ruley advanced to second to put two runners in scoring position. Then, back-to-back RBI groundouts from Scolese and Amy Gastright gave the Cardinals their first lead of the game.
Starting pitcher Alex Pley entered the fifth inning ready to face the top of the Shorewomen order with the 2-1 lead intact. After a single by the lead-off hitter Hannah Solge began the inning, pinch-hitter Lilly Wenzel stepped into the batter's box. She contributed in the ultimate way, blasting a 2-2 pitch beyond the left-field wall to push Washington College back ahead.
Catholic provided an immediate response in the bottom of the frame, hitting relief pitcher Emmie Meeks for five runs to blow the game wide open. Kerri Hatcliffe, Kaitlyn Murphy, Caroline Adams and Fike all delivered RBIs in the big inning.
Gastright put the cherry on top of the performance when she smashed a two-run homer of her own to left field. Olivia Stinchcomb continued her return from injury, taking over for Pley to pitch the final two innings of the contest. She allowed just one run as Ruley made an incredible diving catch in right field during the seventh inning to help Catholic secure the win.
Fike and Murphy had multi-hit games while Scolese and Garza both registered three hits apiece. Eight of Catholic's nine hitters scored a run in the contest as the impressive freshman Pley earned her fifth win of the season in the circle.
The Cardinals will open conference play when they host Susquehanna in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. First pitch in the series that was originally scheduled for Saturday is set for 4 p.m. The match-up was moved forward one day due to forecasted inclement weather.
