ARLINGTON, Va. — Senior pitcher Justina Benvenuto surpassed 100 career strikeouts in game one of the Catholic University softball team's doubleheader split with Marymount (Va.) Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals have now won 22 games this season, just one shy of the team's season total last year.

Game 1: Marymount 3-2 Catholic

The Cardinals dropped a tight one in game one despite a strong effort in the circle from Benvenuto.

The senior picked up the loss despite not allowing a single earned run, and struck out five Saints en route to the career milestone. The right-hander registered her second complete game of the season, and has been very unlucky, having lost both of those outings while allowing no earned runs.

Sophie Maccarone's team got out to the ideal start, plating a run before Marymount recorded an out. Sophia Fike continued her high-level production in the lead-off spot, drawing a walk to begin the game. Then back-to-back singles from Mia Szap and Katie Scolese pushed Fike across to nudge Catholic ahead.

There wasn't much action on the base paths beyond that until the fourth inning. In the top of the frame, Catholic loaded the bases when Toni Ruley produced a clutch two-out hit to join Kaitlyn Murphy and Caroline Adams on the basepaths. Fike was unable to cash in on this occasion for the Cardinals, however, as the Saints worked out of the jam.

Marymount was able to get to Benvenuto in the bottom of the fourth, plating three runs all with two outs. The Saints took full advantage of a Catholic error that loaded the bases with one out. It looked momentarily like the Cardinals would get out of the tough situation after getting the second out of the inning courtesy of a foul out, but it was not to be. Back-to-back singles followed by an RBI fielder's choice pushed the Saints ahead, 3-1.

Benvenuto registered her 100th strikeout to end the Saints' big inning and added two more to finish with five total on the day. The senior's season ERA sits at an impressive 1.27 after today's strong showing.

Catholic did all it could to produce a comeback in the final frame. Fike led off the inning successfully again with a bunt single this time before Szap walked to put two on with none out. After Scolese was retired, Olivia Stinchcomb came through with an infield single to load the bases. Then Alex Garza hit a fly ball to center field, allowing Fike to come home and score. Assuming the throw would come to the plate, Szap tried to advance to third, but was gunned down to end the game on an alert play and great throw by Marymount center fielder Jenna Jew.

Game 2: Catholic 12-2 Marymount (5 innings)

Catholic bounced back in emphatic style as the bats came alive in game two. 

The Cardinals continued their season-long trend of scoring early, again plating runs before Marymount was able to step into the batter's box. This time Catholic scored four runs in the first frame courtesy of RBIs from Stinchcomb, Murphy and Adams (2). Scolese was able to get in on the act in the second inning when she found grass in left field for a two-RBI double. 

Alex Pley was in the circle for Catholic in game two and pitched well again. She threw the full five innings, allowing just four hits and two earned runs. She struck out two batters but did walk one and hit three, including striking one batter with the bases loaded to force across a run in the bottom of the second.

Catholic continued to hit, plating multiple runs in every frame aside from the third. Pley produced a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the fifth to achieve the run rule and clinch the victory. The freshman pitcher moves to an impressive 9-3 on the season with the victory.

Five Cardinals registered multiple hits in game two, led by a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate by Garza. Szap registered three hits while Fike, Stinchcomb and Adams each had two.

Catholic's focus now turns to a monster weekend in Landmark Conference play. The race for positions atop the conference standings is vital as only the top five teams will qualify for the postseason with fourth and fifth place set to compete in a one-off play-in game to qualify for the traditional double-elimination tournament. The No. 1 seed will host the tournament on the second weekend of May.

Due to earlier season postponements, Catholic still has three conference series remaining while most other Landmark Conference programs have just two. This weekend, Catholic travels to Lycoming on Saturday and Elizabethtown on Sunday for two massive doubleheaders. First pitch on Saturday in Williamsport, Pa., is set for 1 p.m.