HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. - The Cabrini University softball team kicked off Atlantic East Pod Play on Friday against 1-seeded Centenary University and 4-seeded Gwynedd Mercy University. The Cavaliers split games on the day, dropping the first to Centenary 0-1 and taking the second to Gwynedd Mercy 10-5. Softball's season continues tomorrow, as they will play the Cyclones or Griffins at 12pm. Should the Cavaliers win at noon, they will play a 2pm game with a chance to advance through Pod A to the Atlantic East Conference Championship.

Game One (7 Inn.)
Score: Cabrini 0, Centenary 1
Records: Cabrini 10-15, Centenary 25-12
Hits: Cabrini 2, Centenary 1
Errors: Cabrini 0, Centenary 0
WP: J. Miller (20-3) LP: Avery Byrnes (8-6)

Cabrini Leaders
At the Plate

• Kelsey Huling 1-3
• Kaitlyn Delaney 1-3

In the Field

• Sam Taddei 4 putouts
• Madison Gugel 2 putouts, 1 assist

How it Happened

• Avery Byrnes retired the Cyclones in order in five of her six innings of work. She allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk in the game.
• Centenary collected their lone run in the bottom of the second inning. Following a leadoff walk, the Cyclones traded an out to sacrifice bunt the runner to second, before scoring her on a single to right field.
• Huling and Delaney collected hits during the contest, but the Cavaliers were unable to cross the plate as they'd fall 0-1.

Game Two (7 Inn.)
Score: Cabrini 10, Gwynedd Mercy 5
Records: Cabrini 10-16, Gwynedd Mercy 16-22
Hits: Cabrini 15, Gwynedd Mercy 10
Errors: Cabrini 2, Gwynedd Mercy 1
WP: Avery Byrnes (9-6)  LP: J. Baumeister (6-6)
 
Cabrini Leaders
At the Plate

• Ariana Mirenda 3-5 (2 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB)
• Emma Barbera 3-4 (2 R, 2 SB)
• Kelsey Huling 3-5 (2 RBI)
• Sam Kilson 2-4 (2B, RBI, SB)

In the Field

• Kaitlyn Delaney 11 putouts, 1 assist
• Sam Kilson 5 putouts
• Gugel/Barbera 2 putouts, 1 assist

In the Circle

• Avery Byrnes 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
• Dorian Ilyes 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB

How it Happened

• Gwynedd Mercy got on the board first, delivering three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
• Cabrini responded quickly, collecting 4 runs in the top of the second. Emma Barbera, Sam Kilson, Ariana Mirenda, and Kelsey Huling all collected hits in the frame while Madison Gugel walked and Brooke Protetsto hit a sac fly. 
• Cabrini doubled their run total in the top of the third, collecting 4 runs off 3 Cavalier hits (Barbera, Kilson, Mirenda).
• In the fourth inning, Dorian Ilyes singled to left center to bring Kaitlyn Delaney across for their 9th run.
• Gwynedd Mercy squeaked out 3 hits to earn back a run in the bottom of the fourth, as the Cavs led 9-4.
• Cabrini added run number 10 in the fifth, as Ariana Mirenda doubled, Madison Gugel moved her to third, and Kelsey Huling scored the center fielder on a single.
• Trailing by six runs entering the final inning, the Griffins put one run on the board, as the Cavaliers took the game by a final score of 10-5.

Due Up
Softball needs two wins in Hackettstown N.J. tomorrow to advance to the Atlantic East Conference Championship. Top-seeded Cententenary University stands in their way, as a single win for the Cyclones ends Cabrini's season. 

• Game One is set for 12pm
• Game Two will be played at 2pm, if Cabrini is victorious in Game One
• Winner advances through Pod A to the AEC Championship