WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior pitcher Lauren DeMarco's (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) four-hit shutout in game one helped the Wilkes University softball team to a crucial split against Catholic University Sunday afternoon, defeating the Cardinals 1-0 in the day's first game and falling 6-2 in game two.

Wilkes moves to 20-16 overall (7-7 Landmark), while Catholic ended the day 26-10 (10-4 Landmark) on the year.

Game 1 – Wilkes 1, Catholic 0
After Maddy Maloney (Scranton, PA/Lackawanna College) walked in the top of the first and advanced to second on a Mia Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) groundout, Samantha Petersen (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) drove home the senior shortstop with an RBI single up the middle to score the game's only run.

With a one-run lead, DeMarco went to work in the bottom of the second and allowed eight total baserunners on four hits, one error, one hit by pitch, and a walk. The Cardinals threatened in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded and one out but could not capitalize with a popout and strikeout to end the frame.

In the end, Petersen's single proved to be the difference as the Colonels rode DeMarco's dominance in the circle to victory. The Merrick, N.Y. native picked up her eighth win of the season in the complete-game outing, striking out five. Petersen led the Colonels with two hits, the only Wilkes batter with a multi-hit game.

Aubrynn Arcement (9-3) took the loss for the Cardinals, allowing one run on four hits with two strikeouts. Like Petersen, Emma Fleming was the lone Cardinal to have multiple hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
Game 2 – Wilkes 2, Catholic 6
In game two, Catholic plated runs in the first and third to take an early 2-0 lead over the Colonels.

In the top of the sixth, Talia Piragas (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge) put Wilkes on the board with a double to left center that scored Taylor Ferrari (Gordon, PA/North Schuylkill), advancing to third on the throw. Paige Randazzo (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) then brought home the sophomore outfielder with a single down the right field line to tie the game at 2-2.

The bottom half of the inning was less kind to the Colonels, as Arcement put Catholic ahead once more with a solo home run off Audrey Rinda (Easton, PA/Easton Area) in the first at-bat of the frame. A few batters later with the bases loaded, a bases-clearing double for the Cardinals put the game out of reach, creating the final 6-2 scoreline.

Rinda (3-5) was given the loss, allowing two earned runs with two strikeouts in one inning of relief of the starting Butka. At the plate, Piragas and Victoria Butler (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) led the way with two hits each.

Sophia Colangelo (10-4) picked up the victory in the circle, going the distance allowing two runs on nine hits with four strikeouts. Olivia Stinchcomb and Arcement each had a team-high two hits in the game, with the former leading all players with four RBIs.

Wilkes returns to action on Saturday, May 2^nd as they wrap up the regular season with a crucial doubleheader against Susquehanna University. First pitch at the Ralston Athletic Complex is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. for the team's Morgan's Message Awareness game.