WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Catholic softball team returned to Landmark play for its first conference doubleheader on the road against Wilkes. The Colonels pitching made life difficult for the Cardinals throughout both games and it led them to two victories on Saturday afternoon.
GAME ONE- Wilkes 6, Catholic 1
Wilkes got off to a fast start in game one with two runs in the bottom of the second inning to have an early multi-run lead.
The big inning for the Colonels came the very next inning when they brought four more runs to the plate to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Wilkes picked up six hits in total in the inning, with three in a row at one point to help open up the lead.
The lone run of the game for the Cardinals in the top of the fifth inning after
Sam Grillo reached base on an error. With two outs in the inning,
Elise Faxon ripped a double down the left field line to bring Grillo to the plate to make it 6-1.
Kerri Hatcliffe led the Cardinals offensively, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, but Mia Butka was able to pitch a complete game while only allowing six hits to lock up a win for Wilkes in the first game.
GAME TWO- Wilkes 2, Catholic 0
The Cardinals picked up multiple hits in each of the first two innings with Grillo,
Katie Scolese,
Katie McHugh and
Amanda Gomez all recording singles. Catholic however were not able to bring any runners home with either of the chances in the early innings.
Aubrynn Arcement put herself in scoring position with a lead off double and a McHugh base-hit drove a single into left field to move her to third with two outs. Catholic once again could not come up with the big hit and the game remained tied at 0-0.
Sophia Colangelo started off strong, retiring nine of the first 10 batters she faced. Wilkes finally had a breakthrough in the bottom of the fourth when Olivia Dougher drove in a run with a two-out single up the middle to take a 1-0 lead. The next inning the lead was doubled by the Colonels with a Talia Piragas RBI sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Olivia Stinchcomb doubled in the top of the seventh to try and spark the Cardinals on to a comeback but the next three hitters were set down to close out a sweep for the Colonels.
The Cardinals return to the field on Wednesday, April 2 when they take on Elizabethtown for a doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3 pm at Maryland Softball Stadium in College Park, Md..
