SCRANTON, PA – The Cabrini softball team made history today. The Cavaliers scored a pair of road wins to upset the number one seed Marywood to win the 2022 Atlantic East Conference championship.  

The 3-0 and 5-1 victories mark the first conference title for the Blue and White since 2004 and just the sixth in program history.

As league champion, the Cavaliers also claim the Atlantic East's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament field. Cabrini will learn its fate on Monday at 1pm, when the NCAA broadcasts the NCAA Selection Show on NCAA.com.

Junior Avery Byrnes was named Championship Most Valuable Player after a pair of dominant pitching performances. In the opener, Byrnes tossed her fourth no hitter of the season with 13 strikeouts. Byrnes went five innings in relief to earn her second win of the day. With her six strikeouts in Game 2, Byrnes also broke the program's single season strikeout record of 153, set by Angela Templin in 2005.

Game 1: #2 Cabrini 3, #1 Marywood 0
The Cavaliers stranded two runners in both the first and second innings, but finally got on the board in the top of the third. Sophomore Madison Gugel opened the frame with a triple, before scoring on a single by senior Emily Wargo.

The solo run proved to be all the offense Byrnes needed to secure the victory. The junior allowed just two base runners on the day, hitting a batter in the first and a walk in the fifth, but neither reached second base. Byrnes struck out at least two batters in five of the seven innings and punched out the side twice.

The Blue and White added a run in the fifth, with Gugel sparking the offense again. The sophomore drew a walk before advancing after a single by Kaitlyn Martin. Both runners advanced on a double steal, with Gugel scoring on a Wargo foul ball down the left field line.

A two out rally in the sixth inning closed the scoring. Sophomore Ariana Mirenda singled up the middle, advanced to second on a passed ball and stole second, before scoring on a Gugel double down the left field line.

Gugel went 3-3 with a pair of runs scored, while freshman Abby Tobelmann notched two hits. In the pitcher's circle, Gugle struck out 13 of the 23 batters she faces, while coaxing fly balls for the final eight outs.

Game 2: Cabrini 5, Marywood 1
As the home team in Game 2, freshman pitcher Sammi Sisolak found herself in trouble in the top of the first, as the Pacers loaded the bases with one out. The rookie secured fly ball outs for the final two outs of the frame, stranding all three runners on base.

The Cavaliers carried the momentum into the bottom of the first. Mirenda led off with a triple, before scoring in a Martin sacrifice fly.

Despite going 1-2-3 in the top of the second, head coach Chris Protesto made the move back to Byrnes for the third. Byrnes surrendered a double to the first batter she faced, but stranded the runner there.

Cabrini took advantage of a pair of Marywood errors to add a pair of runs in the third. Mirenda reached with a single before taking second on the first miscue of the game. The sophomore then advanced to third when Gugel reached on another infield error, advancing to second. A Martin sacrifice fly plated Mirenda one batter before Gugel scored on a Wargo infield single.

The home team threatened again in the top of the fifth, loading the bases, but Byrnes struck out the side to leave the bags full.

The Cavaliers took advantage of another Marywood error in the fifth. With Mirenda and Gugel on third and first, respectively, Gugel looked to swipe second, but the catcher's throw was off target, allowing Mirenda to cross the plate.

Marywood finally got to Byrnes in top of the sixth, as the first three batters reached with singles to score the Pacers' lone run of the afternoon.

Cabrini got the run back in the bottom of the inning, as Mirenda's one out single drove in sophomore Emma Barbera, who reached with a double. The Cavaliers left the bases loaded in the inning, but the four run cushion proved to be too much to overcome against Byrnes.

Mirenda went 4-4 with three runs scored in the nightcap, while Wargo went 3-3. Sisolak tossed two scoreless innings before Byrnes took over, allowing just one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts over five innings.