KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Catholic softball team headed down to Florida to participate in the Spring Games. The Cardinals were able to start off their Sunshine State residency with two wins.

GAME ONE - Catholic 4, Loras 3

Aubyrnn Acrement took to the circle in the top of the first, once again called on to start game one for the Cardinals.

Loras struck first, scoring two runs in the second inning. Duhawk's Katherine Svigelj hit an RBI double, scoring both runs. The Cardinals were able to answer in the bottom of the second, thanks to a solo shot from Katie Scolese. 

Catholic evened the score in the fourth. Scolese once again got the offense started, leading off with a double. Hayden Hudson followed up with a ground out to the pitcher, but it allowed Scolese to advance to third. Emma Fleming earned herself the game tying RBI with her ball to the right side of the infield. 

Acrement and her defense were able to keep Loras from scoring through the top of the seventh. With the game still tied at the bottom of the inning, the morning matchup headed to extras. 

The Duhawks were able to string together some hits in the top of the ninth to push a run across. With bases loaded, Svigelj sent an RBI single to left field giving the Duhawks the 3-2 lead. Acrement closed out the inning by collecting two strikeouts in a row.

With their backs against the wall and in an international tiebreaker in the bottom of the ninth, Elise Faxon placed a sacrifice bunt down to move Katie McHugh over to third. The hot hitter, Scolese, collected a walk in her next at bat. A sacrifice from Hayden Hudson moved Scolese over to second. Fleming logged a walk, loading the bases. With bases loaded and two outs, Geneva Webber set a ball out to right field. An error made by the right fielder allowed both McHugh and Scolese to score. 

The Cardinals were able to secure game one down in Florida, defeating the Duhawks 4-3 in 9 innings.

GAME TWO - Catholic 15, Carlow 0

Emma Fleming earned her first hit of the day in the top of the first, sending a ball up the middle. Fleming also earned herself a stolen base. McHugh collected her first home run of the season, collecting two RBIs to put Catholic on the board first. 

Sophia Colangelo was efficient in the circle by forcing two groundout and a fly out in the bottom of the first after earning the start for game two.

In the top of the second, the Cardinals extended their lead. Webber sent an RBI double ball to the left center wall, scoring Gianna Samperi. The Cardinals added two more runs in the inning, capitalizing on an error and a rundown situation. 

The Cardinal offense really came alive in the third inning. Scolese led off with a home run, increasing the Cardinal lead to 7-0. Kerri Hatcliffe and Grace Christie both collected back-to-back singles to the left side. With her poke through the left side, Christie earned her first career hit. A walk from Webber allowed Hatcliffe to score, extending the lead to eight. Sam Grillo added a two RBI hit of her own. 

The Cardinals continued to add three more runs in the third inning. Fleming collected a sacrifice fly and Olivia Stinchcomb sent an RBI triple sailing past the center fielder. McHugh closed out the offensive tear with her second home run of the day.

After a full three innings, the Cardinals led 13-0.

The Cardinals sealed the deal with two more runs in the top of the fifth. Hudson was hit by a pitch and moved to third on Annie McMahon's first career hit, a single to right field. Both Cardinals moved to the scoring position on second and third, which allowed them to capitalize on a bunt single from Payne and a throwing error. 

With Sophia Colangelo on the mound for the full five innings, the Cardinals closed out the game after the fifth inning, earning the 15-0 win.

Inside the Box Score

• McHugh went 4-8 on the day, logging two homers, three runs, and five RBIs. McHugh has the second-most hits on the team this season behind Olivia Stinchcomb with 10.
• Scolese also picked up two home runs and a double in day one of The Spring Games, going 4-6 on the day and tallying four runs and two RBIs. Scolese is now tied with Stinchcomb this season in the home run category with three apiece.
• Webber had a great day across the board, earning two RBIs and a double in both games.
• Arcement and Colangelo recorded the wins for the Cardinals, each notching four strikeouts and extending both of their records to 3-1.

Catholic will be back in action on Wednesday, March 11 in Kissimmee, Fla. at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex. There, the Cardinals will face off against Montclair State at 10 a.m. and Benedictine at 2:45 p.m.