WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Catholic softball team hosted Juniata for a Landmark Conference matchup to start the week. The Cardinal offense spurred two wins, making it 26 straight against the Eagles.

GAME ONE – Catholic 5, Juniata 0

Juniata threatened to score first with leadoff single. Then the Eagles sent a ball out to Geneva Webber in center field, but she fired home to catcher Gianna Samperi, forcing the runner to retreat to third. Samperi threw the ball to Katie McHugh at third to tag the runner out before she made it back to the bag for the third out. 

Senior Sam Grillo started the offense with a one hopper into the wall for her ninth double of the season. Emma Fleming laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Grillo to third. Olivia Stinchcomb sent a ball on the ground to second base, creating an opportunity for Grillo to put the first Cardinal run on the board. After one complete, Catholic held the 1-0 lead.  

The scoreboard remained the same until the sixth, proving to be a rubber match between the Landmark opponents. In the bottom of the fourth, McHugh started with a backside triple, but the Cardinals were ultimately unable to push a run across.

Katie Scolese rolled up a double play close out the top of the fifth, stepping on second and sling over to Kerri Hatcliffe on first.  

The Cardinals saw success in both sides of the sixth inning. Aubrynn Arcement collected a pair of strikeouts in the top, once again shutting down the Eagles.

To start the bottom of the inning, McHugh drew her 14th walk of the year, the second most in the conference. The junior then collected a stolen base. Scolese lined one out to the right field fence, sending McHugh home for the second run of the game. Arcement continued the momentum with a single of her own, moving Scolese to third. 

Scolese and Arcement then caused some chaos on the bases forcing throws from the catcher to second base and back, which allowed the pair to advance home and to second. 

Hatcliffe doubled with a shot down the left field line, scoring Arcement. Grillo gave Catholic their fifth run with a single to left field, scoring pinch runner Olivia Brousseau. 

In the seventh inning, Juniata attempted to keep their game one hopes alive with a leadoff double followed by a single. With two runners on, Arcement recorded her fourth strikeout of the afternoon to collect the first out. The senior earned the second out, fielding a comeback ground ball and launching it over to Hatcliffe at first. The Cardinals secured game one when Fleming fielded a groundball and made a clean throw over to first.

With the 5-0 win, Catholic recorded its first shutout win over Juniata since 2023 and Arcement picked up her sixth win of the season. 


GAME TWO – Catholic 11, Juniata 3 (6 innings)

In the circle, sophomore Sophia Colangelo made quick work of the Eagles in the top of the first with a four pitch inning. In the bottom of the inning, Stinchcomb hit a two out double in an attempt to start a rally, but the Cardinals came away from the first scoreless. 

In the top of the second, Juniata found a pair of runners on the bases due to a throwing error and a single out to left. With the Cardinal defense in, looking to make a play at home, Juniata's Amanda Townley singled up the middle giving her squad their first runs of the day.

The Catholic bats came alive in the bottom of the second inning, tallying eight runs. Arcement started the streak with a double to the right field fence, her third double of the season. Hatcliffe then singled up the middle, advancing Arcement to third. When the Juniata defense turned their backs, Hatcliffe saw an opportunity to take an uncovered second base, putting her in scoring position. The Cardinals tied it up when senior Leeah Koegel doubled to the left center fence to drive Arcement and Hatcliffe home to tie up the ballgame.

Fleming continued the offensive surge with a two RBI single poked into shallow right field, scoring Koegel and Grillo. Scolese, who started off the inning, tripled to the right center gap. Her shot scored both  McHugh and Stinchcomb. Gracie Ruch entered the game in the circle for the Eagles and Arcement, unphased, sent an RBI single up the middle.  When the inning retired, Catholic led Juniata 8-2.

While both teams were able to score multiple in the second, they each came up empty in the third. McHugh tacked another Cardinal run to the board in the fourth with a sacrifice fly, scoring Stinchcomb who got on thanks to a fielder's choice.

Claire Thomas gave Juniata their first extra base hit of the day in the top of the fifth with her double down the left field line. This did not phase the Cardinal defense, as they left her stranded.

The Eagles added another run in the top of the sixth as they attempted to chip away at the deficit. Dani Berlin singled through the right side to score Grace Hensch. The Cardinals stopped them there, securing three straight outs to end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Webber led off for the Cardinals, singling with a hard hit ball to third base, and stealing second to put her in scoring position. Sam Grillo stepped up to the plate as the only Cardinal in the lineup without a hit. The senior changed that in a big way when she sent one flying over the left center fence, driving in two runs to end the game. Grillo's bomb was her first of the season and she became the fifth Cardinal record a home run this year. The Cardinals lead the Landmark with 19 home runs. 

Inside the Box Score:

• With today's sweep, the Cardinals have now won nine in a row to pick up their longest win streak since 2010 (11).
• Aubrynn Arcement went 4-6 on the day and was the only Cardinal to collect multiple hits in both games. The senior recorded a double, two runs and an RBI. In the circle, she earned her sixth win of the season, logging four strikeouts across seven innings pitched.
• Sam Grillo had three hits and three RBI on the day, logging a homer and her ninth double of the season. 

Up next, Catholic will look to remain unbeaten in Landmark play as they travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to take on Moravain. The doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday April 11th with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. and game two to follow.