WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of Scranton softball team (19-10, 5-3 Landmark) used a pair of dominant pitching performances to sweep a key Landmark Conference doubleheader from the Catholic University Cardinals (12-12, 5-5 Landmark) on Saturday afternoon at the Catholic Softball Field.

Scranton took game one by a 6-0 score and captured game two, 1-0.

Game One

Graduate student Jennifer Sweeney (Wind Gap, Pa./Dumont) surrendered six hits and fanned one over her seven shutout innings to lead the Royals to the 6-0 win in game one.

Sweeney has not allowed a run in her last 14.0 IP after also tossing a complete game shutout in a victory over New Paltz on Wednesday.

The Royals loaded the bases with one out in the third via a double, hit by pitch and a walk before a wild pitch brought home the first run and Sweeney followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.

Scranton added four more runs in the seventh inning as senior Heather Alich (Bath, Pa./Northampton Area) delivered a two-run single and sophomore Sarah Stepnowski (Monroe Twp, N.J./Monroe) came through with a two-run triple to finish the scoring in game one.

Katie Hurd was dealt the loss for the Cardinals after allowing six runs on 11 hits in a complete game effort.

Sweeney (3-4, RBI) and junior Jenna Davida (Congers, N.Y./Clarkstown North) who was 3-4 with a run scored led the charge offensively, while sophomore Jessica Stadler (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) added two hits and two runs.

Game Two

Alich plated the lone run of the game with an RBI double in the sixth inning and freshman Emma Tirollo (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional) tossed a complete game shutout of her own to lead the visitors to the 1-0 victory in the nightcap.

Tirollo allowed five hits and fanned two in her seven innings of work to improve to 7-3 on the year in the circle.

In the top of the sixth, Davida led off with a single and scored from first on Alich's RBI double to account for all of the scoring in the contest.

Justina Benvenuto took the loss as she gave up the one run on six hits and fanned a pair in her 7.0 IP for the Cardinals.

Davida tallied a pair of hits and scored the decisive run in the victory for the Royals.

The University of Scranton softball team returns home to host King's in a non-conference doubleheader on Monday afternoon with first pitch of game one slated for 4 p.m.

--ROYALS--