CAMDEN, N.J. (April 18, 2024) – The Catholic University of America softball team collected 22 hits and scored 16 runs as it swept a non-conference doubleheader from Rutgers University-Camden here Thursday by scores of 10-4 and 6-2.
 
Catholic, based in Washington, D.C., improved to 21-9, while Rutgers-Camden fell to 13-19.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they play a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader at William Paterson University, beginning at 12 p.m.
   
The Cardinals scored three runs in the first inning and rolled up a 10-1 lead before Rutgers-Camden scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a bases-clearing double by freshman shortstop Alana Gannon.
 
Catholic collected 12 hits, including three apiece by the first three batters in the lineup, junior center fielder Toni Ruley, senior third baseman Sophia Fike and freshman designated player Mia Szap. Ruley scored two runs and drove home two, while Szap scored three times and added one RBI and Fike scored twice and had one RBI.
 
All three of the Cardinals' batters at the top of the lineup singled to open the game. Senior left fielder Alex Garza plated Catholic's first run with a sacrifice fly and senior catcher Grace Tolle had a two-run single to account for the three-run first inning.
 
Senior pitcher Justina Benvenuto (3-3) collected the win, working six innings of six-hit ball. She allowed one earned run and three walks, while striking out one.
 
Senior center fielder Alexa McNee was the lone Raptor with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with one run scored.
   
The Scarlet Raptors took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, sparked by a leadoff walk to senior designated player Kamryn Kennedy. She advanced on a wild pitch and went to third on a single by sophomore second baseman Gianna Bauer. When Bauer was caught stealing, Kennedy scored on the play.
 
Catholic tied the game in the top of the second inning on a pair of hits, including an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Kerri Hatcliffe. The Cardinals took the lead for good with a fourth-inning run after a leadoff double by Szap. She moved up on a ground out and scored on a ground out by Tolle.
 
Rutgers-Camden scored its second run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a pair of singles by freshman right fielder Kali Baker and an RBI hit by junior left fielder Emily Dubiago.
 
Hatcliffe went 3-for-3 with two RBIs for the Cardinals. Freshman Alex Pley (8-2) hurled a seven-hitter, allowing one walk and two earned runs, while striking out three.
 
Raptor junior Lindsey Rodzon (2-11) took the loss in both games, working 11 innings in the doubleheader.
 
Both Bauer and Dubiago had two hits for the Raptors. Freshman Devyn Jordan had a pinch-hit single in the fifth inning for her first collegiate hit.