KISSIMEE, Fla. – The Catholic softball team collected a split on its final day in Florida. The Cardinals defeated the Red Hawks in a pitcher's duel and fell in extras to the Eagles. The Cardinals finish their stint in Florida 3-1. 

GAME ONE - Catholic 3, Montclair St. 0

The Cardinals found all three of their runs in the top of the first and held on for the full seven innings. 

Sam Grillo led off for the Cardinals, starting the game off with a double off of Montclair St. 's Jordan Tarabokia. Emma Fleming, batting in the two spot, laid down a sacrifice bunt. Grillo advanced to third on the bunt and capitalized on an error to score the first run of the day for the Cardinals. Fleming moved herself over to third with smart base running and earned a stolen base in the process. Olivia Stinchcomb rocketed a ball to left field to earn an RBI double, scoring Fleming.

Katie McHugh earned herself a walk after a quality at bat and advanced to second off of a single up the middle from Katie Scolese. With McHugh now in scoring position, Aubrynn Arcement sent her home with a hit through the left side. 

Now with the Cardinals up 3-0, they called upon Alex Pley to get the job done in the circle. The junior earned her first start of the season. Pley was able to force a ground out out of the leader off batter, setting an early tone. Red Hawk's Sophia Alonso earned a single off of Pley, hoping to start a rally to answer the early Catholic lead. McHugh, behind the dish for the first time this season, picked off Alonso to eliminate an early threat on the basepath for the second out. The Cardinals closed out the inning with another ground out. 

The next three innings were a pitchers duel between Pley and Dakota Palmieri. Both teams were unable to push a run across. In the fifth inning, Montclair St. put a new pitcher on the rubber, hoping to keep the Cardinals off balance. Carly Mockenhaupt was able to hold the Cardinals throughout the last two innings.

Despite going six innings scoreless, three runs in the first inning was all the Cardinals needed to collect the third win in the Sunshine State.

Pley chalked up six strikeouts against the Red Hawks and only gave up four hits. This is the first win of the season for the junior. 

Kerri Hatcliffe led Catholic in the box going 2 for 3. She was the only Cardinal to have a multi-hit day against the Red Hawks.

GAME TWO - Catholic 6, Benedictine (Ill.), 7

Catholic went into its final game hoping to earn a sweep on the day and continue their Spring Games success. 

Arcement made her presence known in the circle, forcing a ground out, pop out, and strikeout in the top of the first against the Eagles. 

The Cardinals were able to push a run across in the bottom of the first. Fleming got the offense started with a single over to right field and Stinchcomb followed it up with a single of her own. McHugh earned her seventh walk of the season to load the bases. Acrement helped her own cause when she collected a walk, sending a run in. 

The Cardinals held their 1-0 lead through the second inning. The Eagles finally answered in the top of the third, capitalizing on a pair of errors. The score remained tied at one apiece through five full innings. 

The Eagles climbed ahead in the sixth inning, scoring six runs. Catholic went into the bottom of the sixth inning, searching for a spark to put themselves back into the game. Scolese found her way onto the basepath to start the inning off of an error. The senior moved to second off of a sacrifice bunt from Acrement. Gianna Samperi sent an RBI single through to center field. The Cardinals end the sixth inning trailing 7-2.

The Cardinals forced a three up, three down inning out of Benedictine with three fly balls to left and center.

Down 7 to 2, the Cardinals needed to rally in the bottom of the seventh to keep sweep hopes alive. Fleming started the fight with a hit to right field. The sophomore advanced to second off of a wild pitch with Stinchcomb in the box and moved over to third off of a fly ball out to left. McHugh doubled, sending Fleming home and cutting down the Eagle lead. 

McHugh then stole third, putting herself in position to score off of an error. Hatcliffe, the game tying run, stepped up to the plate and earned a walk. With the bases loaded, Samperi stepped into the box. She was able to stay disciplined and earn another walk and run for the Cardinals. Now the Cardinals were down 7 to 5 with bases loaded and one out. Despite putting a new pitcher in the circle, the Cardinals were able to continue offensive success. Webber and Grillo each hit a single back to back to even the score at seven apiece. 

With the score tied, the game moved into extra innings. The Eagles capitalized on having a runner start on second due to international tiebreaker rules, scoring their runner. Catholic, now down 8-7, needed to do the same in the bottom of the eighth. Stinchcomb was able to move Fleming to third with a sacrifice bunt, but the Cardinal offense was unable to push her across before logging three outs.

Catholic, despite an impressive offensive push in the seventh inning, fell 8-7 after eight innings.

Samperi went 2 for 3 against Benedictine, her second multi-hit game of her career. She also led the squad with her two RBIs. 

Up next, the Cardinals will return to the District to host Washington College in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 18th. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. with the second game scheduled for 5 p.m..