LANCASTER, Pa. - The Cabrini University softball team took the first of two games against Franklin and Marshall College on Thursday afternoon. The Cavaliers used two home runs to outscore the Diplomats in game one before F&M overcame the Cavs' sixth inning rally to claim game two. Cabrini softball begins Atlantic East Conference play on Monday at Gwynedd Mercy University.

(Game 1) Cabrini 7, Franklin and Marshall 5
Cabrini wasted no time getting on the board, as Ariana Mirenda cleared the fence for a leadoff home run.

Avery Byrnes pitched a light first and second inning, leaving just one runner on base. F&M would score 3 runs off 3 hits in the bottom of the third inning, giving the Diplomats a 3-1 lead.

Cabrini reclaimed the edge with a 3 spot of their own. Madison Gugel and Kelsey Huling led off the fourth inning with singles. With runners on the corners, Avery Byrnes' ground ball to second base scored Gugel. Kaitlyn Delaney followed with a hit by pitch to load the bases for Emma Barbera. Barbera had a productive out, as her grounder to short scored Huling to tie the game 3-3. Dorian Ilyes then dropped a sacrifice bunt to score Byrnes and take a 4-3 lead.

The Cavaliers used 4 hits in the top of the fifth to extend their advantage. Ariana Mirenda, Madison Gugel, and Kelsey Huling all singled before Kaitlyn Delaney's RBI double brought the Cavs' sixth run across the plate.

The following inning, Sam Kilson hit a solo homerun to put Cabrini ahead 7-3. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, F&M added 2 runs, but Avery Byrnes retired the Diplomats in order to end the seventh and give Cabrini the 7-5 victory. Byrnes recorded 4 strikeouts and picked up her third win of the season.

(Game 2) Cabrini 5, Franklin and Marshall 6
Franklin and Marshall went ahead early in the second matchup, as 4 runners crossed the plate through 2 innings. 

Cabrini got on the board in the fourth inning when Madison Gugel singled, stole second, and scored on a hit from Avery Byrnes.

Trailing 1-4, the Cavaliers rallied to take the lead. Gugel and Byrnes led off the sixth inning with singles before Kaitlyn Delaney got hit by a pitch. Emma Barbera hit a sac fly to center for the Cavs' second run. Dorian Ilyes and Sam Kilson followed with back-to-back doubles, bringing three more runs across. 

F&M got back in front with a 2-run home run in the bottom of sixth. The Diplomats introduced a new pitcher in the top of the seventh who protected their 6-5 lead and earned the save.

Dorian Ilyes pitched a scoreless third, fourth, and fifth inning in her fourth appearance of the season. 

On Deck
Softball will travel to Gwynedd Mercy University for their Conference opener on Monday, March 25th. The Cavs and Griffins play twice, with first pitch slated for 3pm.