GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA – The Cabrini softball team used a late rally and a dominant pitching performance today to score a pair of wins in its season-opener. The Cavaliers topped Gwynedd Mercy 5-4 and 3-1, opening the campaign with a pair of Atlantic East Conference victories.

Game 1: Cabrini 5, Gwynedd Mercy 4
The Blue and Whit ewasted little time in opening the scoring. Back to back one out singles set the stage, before freshman Kelsey Huling's bunt scored classmate Madison Gugel. Junior Casey Scheuren's single then scored sophomore Kaitlyn Martin to give Cabrini a 2-0 lead midway through the first inning.

The Griffins responded in the bottom of the second, as a base loaded single and a wild pitch allowed the home team to even the score. Gwynedd Mercy built a two run lead in the bottom of the fourth, as freshman Jocelyn Baumeister's two RBI double put the Griffins ahead 4-2.

Sophomore hurler Grace Stairiker then shut the door on the Griffins, as the hosts did not record another base runner over the final three innings.

The Cavaliers began to chip away in the fifth. Freshman Emma Barbera opened the inning with a single before scoring on a Gugel single.   In the sixth, Huling led off with a single before scoring on a Griffins' infield error, leveling the score at 4-4.

Cabrini regained its lead in the top of the seventh. Junior Angel Cintron reached on another Gwynedd Mercy defensive miscue, before scoring on a Martin single.

Gugel finished her collegiate debut with a 4-4 effort, while Martin tallied a pair of base knocks. Stairiker earned the victory in the pitcher's circle, surrendering four earned runs on six hits.

Game 2: Cabrini 3, Gwynedd Mercy 1
The Cavaliers got all of the offense they needed in the top of the first inning. Cintron opened the game with a walk before Gugel reached on a Gwynedd Mercy error.

Martin then drove in both runners with single to right center. The sophomore crossed the plate two batters later on a Huling double to right.

That proved to be more than enough support for freshman Avery Byrnes, who allowed just three hits with six strikeouts, while pitching a complete game. The rookie allowed one hit in the bottom of the first inning before the Griffins took advantage of two walks and a wild pitch to score their only run of the game.

Martin finished the nightcap 3-4 with a pair of RBI, including her first career triple.

The Cavaliers (2-0, 2-0 Atlantic East) and Griffins (0-6, 0-2 Atlantic East) will meet again on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 12pm at Cabrini Field.