SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton softball team (11-11, 4-2 Landmark) erased an early 4-0 deficit in the nightcap en route to a 10-8 victory and salvaged a split of a Landmark Conference doubleheader with the Catholic University Cardinals (14-12, 3-3 Landmark) on Thursday evening at Magis Field in Scranton.

The Royals captured the 10-8 victory in the nightcap after dropping a 16-6 decision in game one.

Catholic 16, Scranton 6 (F/6)

Catholic plated seven runs in the sixth to break open a 9-6 game and notched the 16-6 victory in game one of Thursday's doubleheader.

The Cardinals had grabbed an early lead with three runs in the first and led 9-1 after two innings with six runs in the second. Four of the six runs in the second inning came with two away as Alex Garza knocked in a pair with a two-run single to complete the scoring in the frame.

Freshman Carley Noble (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) was dealt the loss for the Royals as she allowed five runs on three hits to go along with five walks in an inning plus of work.

Olivia Stinchcomb got the win for Catholic after allowing six runs on six hits while walking four and fanning two over 4 2/3 IP. Justina Benvenuto got the save after surrendering one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless frames.

Senior Jenna Davida (Congers, N.Y./Clarkstown North) began the comeback efforts for the Royals with a solo shot to left in the third and the hosts then added four more runs in the fourth to cut the lead to three at 9-6. In the fourth inning, sophomore Kylie Rochford (Tinton Falls, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) plated a pair with a two-run double and classmate Alyssa Mosconi (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) delivered a two-run single.

The Cardinals used a two-run double from Amy Gastright to open the scoring in the afore-mentioned seven-run sixth.

Davida (2-3, 2B, HR, RBI, 3 R) and Mosconi (2-4, 2 RBI) both recorded multi-hit games for Scranton.

Scranton 10, Catholic 8

Catholic grabbed an early 4-0 edge with four runs in the top of the first, but Scranton scored in each of the first four innings and held on for the 10-8 win.

The Royals got a run back in the home half of the first when junior Jessica Stadler (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) reached with a one-out single, advanced to second on a single, took third on a flyout and scored on an RBI single from freshman Emmie Feltenberger (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts). A three-run second then tied the game at four apiece as the first four batters in the inning reached and Rochford came through with an RBI single, Davida plated a run with an RBI double and junior Sarah Stepnowski (Monroe Twp., N.J./Monroe) tied the game with a sac fly.

In the top of the third, Catholic regained a 6-4 lead with a pair of runs before the Royals responded with five runs in the home half to take a 9-6 lead. Stepnowski and senior Alyssa Segnello (Flanders, N.J./Mount Olive) both delivered two-run singles in the frame and Stadler reached on a fielder's choice to score sophomore Hannah Keane (Randolph, N.J./Randolph).

Keane earned her third win of the season for the Royals as she gave up six runs (three earned) on seven hits in 4.0 IP. Noble came on in relief and allowed two runs on four hits to go along with a walk and a strikeout in three innings of work to notch the save.

Katie Hurd was dealt the loss for the Cardinals after giving up five runs on three hits while walking one and fanning two in just a third of an inning.

Feltenberger drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, took second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a single and scored on Rochford's sac fly to make it a 10-6 game.

Catholic got two runs back in the fifth to cut the Scranton lead to 10-8, but Noble retired the final six batters she faced to preserve the win.

Segnello (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R), Stepnowski (2-3, 3 RBI) and senior Lauren Cawley (Duryea, Pa./Scranton Prep) who doubled twice all registered multi-hit games for the Royals.

The Royals hit the road to battle King's in a non-conference doubleheader on Monday afternoon at King's with first pitch of game one set for 3 p.m.

--ROYALS--