Williamsport, PA – The Catholic University softball team split with Lycoming in a road doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. After being shutout in game one, the Cardinals returned the favor in game two with a shutout of their own accompanied by six runs.
Catholic now sits at an even 6-6 in the Landmark Conference with four contests left to decide the postseason seedings.
Game 1 – Lycoming 2, Catholic 0
The stat lines between the Cardinals and the Warriors were very similar in game one despite the outcome on the scoreboard. Both teams had four hits in the contest and left more than four runners on base.
Alex Pley got the start in the circle for the Cardinals. The freshman threw a complete game, allowing just four hits and one earned run with four strikeouts and 25 batters faced. Pley retired the first six batters with consecutive three up, three down innings to start the contest and did not allow a hit until the bottom of the fourth.
Despite Pley's performance, the Cardinals couldn't get things done on offense. They left eight on base and had an opportunity in the seventh to claw back, but could not capitalize.
Alex Garza, Kerri Hatcliffe, Amy Gastright, and
Toni Ruley were the four Cardinals to record a hit, each coming in a different inning. Hatcliffe struck first with a single to center field in the second inning with one out. She remained on first as the next two batters were retired. Ruley got hers in the third with a lead-off single up the middle. She made it to third after a walk and a wild pitch, but was left stranded 60-feet from home. Garza singled up the middle in the top of the fifth and took second after a
Mia Szap walk before the end of the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Amy Gastright did her job with a lead-off single through the left side as a pinch hitter.
Sam Grillo took her spot on the base paths as a pinch runner and quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch. She reached third on a Ruley ground out to give the Cardinals some life. Garza drew her third walk of the day to put two runners on with two outs. However, the contest was finalized two pitches later with a lineout.
Lycoming scored one run in the fourth and one in the sixth to secure the victory. A leadoff double from Segraves gave Lycoming its first hit of the afternoon. With one down, Kylie Segraves was able to advance to third on a wild pitch during the following at bat. DeWolfe sent a single through the left side to give the home team the lead. The second run was initialed by another lead off double and was plated after a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt.
Game 2 – Catholic 6, Lycoming 0
The Cardinal bats came alive in the second game as they combined to record eight hits and plate six runs off six RBIs. A big fourth inning propelled the Cardinals to their 10th victory by five or more runs this season.
Scolese got the first hit for the Cardinals with a single down the left-field line in the top of the second inning. She advanced to second on a fielding error by the left fielder and headed to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Next up was Hatcliffe who sent a double to center field to score Scolese for her 13th RBI of the season. Catholic maintained the one-run lead through the next inning.
Four runs crossed the plate in the fourth. Gastright slapped a lead off single up the middle before Scolese got a two-bagger with a strong hit to center. Hatcliffe was hit by a pitch and
Kaitlyn Murphy drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. The Warriors were able to retire the next two but could not record the last out before damage was done. Garza reached on a fielding error to score Scolese and Szap hit a two-RBI single to center to expand the lead to five.
Catholic added another run to its totals in the seventh. Scolese continued to stay hot with her second double of the day and 20th of her career. She drove a long ball to right center to score Fike who reached on a walk.
Justina Benvenuto pitched all seven innings to record her second complete game of the season and 11th of her career. She stuck out five batters and allowed just five hits on the day to even her win-loss record at 4-4.
The Cardinals will return to action tomorrow as they travel to Elizabethtown, Pa for a battle with the Blue Jays. The all-important Landmark Conference doubleheader will begin at 11 a.m.
