Lady Cavs sweep Beaver in doubleheader

by Alison Briant staff writer

The Lady Cavaliers softball team definitely had their day in the sun this past Saturday, as they swept a doubleheader in a recent, critical Pennsylvania Athletic Conference matchup against Beaver College.

The Lady Cavs, ranked first in the conference, won their first game 7-4 and their second with a near shutout of 4-1.

This past weekend's games against the Knights were not expected to be sure wins for Cabrini.

"We knew it would be one of our harder games," sophomqre Katie Vallone said. "Last year we only beat Beaver by a few runs in both games when we played them, so we really weren't sure what to expect."

The two wins came as a result of the many noticeable individual performances from numerous members of the team. In the first game against Beaver, sophomore Donna DIBiasio, who leads the PAC in hitting, went three for three with a game-high four runs batted in.

Ljsa Jackson, a first-year student who bats No. 2, also went three for three, scored two runs and added a stolen base.

Junior Linda Costello also scored two runs and went two for three in the contest.

Sophomore first baseman Megan Merkel went two for two in the first game and crossed the plate twice.

"I think we did a good job of staying focused from the start of the first game straight through to the end of the second," Merkel said. "We kept up the intensity and really played well."

Coming back from a deficit in the second game, the Lady Cavs were pushed ahead by first-year student Jamie Walton, who connected for an RBI triple, and junior Michele Gabriel, who went two for three.

The Lady Cavs also possess the top two arms in the PAC in Megan Johnston and Jackie Armes. On Saturday, they showed why they share the No. 1 and No. 2 spots.

In the first contest, first-year starter Johnston pitched a complete game for the win. She allowed no earned runs and gave up just five hits to the Scarlet Knights.

Throwing the heat appeared to be a habit for Armes as she struck out nine Beaver batters.

Throughout the course of the second game, Armes allowed three hits and just one earned run.

Sophomore catcher Maureen McDevitt commented on the success of the team as a result of this past weekend.

"Beaver is one of our biggest competitors in the PAC and we really had to work our hardest," McDevitt said. "We all pulled together and played as a strong team."

According to the team, this win puts them in good position as they progress towards the tournament.

"We are looking forward to the game against Misericordia, which is one of our biggest competitors," McDevitt

The game against Misericordia is away and will begin at 3p.m.