BETHLEHEM, Pa.  — The Catholic softball team entered its final doubleheader of the season against No.13 Moravian trying to tack on a couple more wins before the conference tournament next weekend. The Cardinals used a late rally in game one and came up with clutch hits in the second game to take two games from Moravian to reach 30 wins for the first time in program history. Aubrynn Arcement was stellar in the circle throughout her start as she shutout the Greyhounds for the first five innings to keep the Cardinals in the game at 0-0. Amanda Gomez, Sam Grillo and Katie Scolese each singled to load the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth to try and push across the first run of the game. Moravian worked a double play and a fly out to work out of the inning and keep the game tied. 

Moravian pushed a run across in the bottom of the sixth after Marcie Silberman ripped a one-out double to right center field to put a runner in scoring position. A sacrifice fly to right field brought a runner in to score to put Moravian on top 1-0.

Needing a run to keep the game alive, Katie McHugh picked up an infield single with one out to put the tying run on base for the Cardinals. A walk and a fielder's choice loaded the bases for Catholic with just one out and Sam Grillo was hit by a pitch to tie the game back up at one. Scolese stepped up next and on the first pitch smoked a triple into center field to clear the bases to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game, 4-1. Amy Gastright tacked on another insurance run on a RBI groundout to plate Scolese to push the lead up to four.

The Greyhounds pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate but Arcement was able to bear down and force a fly out and a ground out to retire the side in the seventh to earn Catholic its first victory over Moravian since 2019.  The Cardinals offense got going much earlier in game two as they pushed across two runs in the top of the first to gain an early advantage. Gomez and Scolese each singled to be aboard with one-out and Arcement came through with an RBI single up the middle to bring in the game's first run. Olivia Stinchcomb came up with a two-out RBI single to center field to score Scolese and double the Cardinals lead in the first inning. 

The lone Moravian run came in the bottom of the second inning after two walks put two runners on to start the inning off. A sacrifice fly brought in the run in the inning but Sophia Colangelo retired the last two batters of the inning to keep the damage at one and hold the Cardinals lead at 2-1. 

Catholic hung a crooked number in the top of the third after Grillo led the inning off with an infield single. Scolese followed up behind her with a double into left field to score Grillo all the way from first to double the Catholic lead. McHugh tacked on another run to the lead by poking a single through the right side of the infield to bring Scolese to the plate to put the Cardinals on top 4-1.

After Colangelo allowed back-to-back with one-out in the bottom of the third inning, she induced a 5-3 double play to get out of the jam and keep the lead at three. From that point on, Colangelo retired 12 of the last 13 batters she faced to hold the Greyhounds to just one run on three hits for the game. The Cardinals took the game 4-1 to wrap up a two-game sweep of the Greyhounds. 

It was the first time in program history that Catholic earned a two game sweep over Moravian. The Cardinals finish the regular season at 30-10 and 12-4 in conference play and will be the number two seed in the upcoming Landmark Conference tournament. 

Inside the Box Score

• Scolese finished the doubleheader 4-for-8 with a double, triple and four RBI to help the Cardinals win both games. Scolese now has 36 RBI on the season which is the second-most in the Landmark this season and the sixth-most in a single season in program history. 
• In game two, Colangelo earned her 13th win of the season which ties her for the sixth-most wins in a single-season in program history. Her 1.76 ERA is the third-lowest in the Landmark this season and her 87.1 innings pitched are the seventh-most in the conference.
• Arcement was also stellar in the circle for Catholic in game one, pitching her team-leading 10th complete game of the season to improve her record to 9-6 on the season. She now boasts a 2.21 ERA which is the seventh-lowest in the conference and she leads the team with 88.2 innings pitched.

The Cardinals will now wait and find out who their opponent will be in the Landmark Conference tournament. Their first game will take place on Friday, May 9 at 11 am at Moravian.