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CLERMONT, Fla. (March 5) –The Catholic University of America outlasted the Saint Vincent softball team for a 10-7 victory in the PFX Spring Games at Hancock Park in Florida. Saint Vincent would rebound for a 21-4 victory in the nightcap against North Central University of Minnesota. 
 
In the opener, Catholic struck for three runs on four hits, including a pair of doubles, to take a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
 
Saint Vincent would quickly counter back in the bottom of the inning, using some two out magic to tie the game. Shelby Noel doubled to deep left and Lauren Miller collected an infield single to put runners on the corner. That is when freshman Alona Sleith crushed a three-run homer, her third home run of the season, to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The Bearcats would take its first lead of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Again all the damage was done after two outs. Sleith, Emily Duerr and Victoria Culver all singled to load the bases. SVC would take advantage of a defensive miscue to take a 4-3 advantage.
 
Catholic capitalized on four walks in the top of the fourth inning to score three runs to take a 6-4 lead over Saint Vincent. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Culver singled home Shae Robson and then Kelsey Hunter tied the game at 6-6 with an RBI double.
 
Two walks by Saint Vincent pitching and two defensive miscues cost SVC in the sixth, as Catholic tacked on four more runs to take a 10-6 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the inning, SVC threatened to make a comeback. Noel, Miller and Sleith all singled to load the bases. Duerr would single to score Noel and make the score 10-7. However, Catholic would strike out the next two batters and leave the bases full of Bearcats.
 
After singles by Kelly Flaherty and Noel, Saint Vincent would bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. However, another strikeout by Catholic would end the threat and the game.
 
Noel, Miller, Sleith, Duerr and Culver all tallied three hits. As a team, Saint Vincent out-hit Catholic by a 18-11 margin in the loss. Freshman pitcher Danielle Chorba took the loss in relief of Duerr. 

In game two, Saint Vincent took advantage of 13 walks and 15 wild pitches while also collecting 13 hits in the rout of NCU. 

Rachel Harenchar had a home run, two hits and scored five runs. Culver, Ashley Brady and Erica Smiley also finished with two hits. Morgan Rittenhouse added two RBI, while Riley Assalone tallied two RBI. 

Smiley picked up her first collegiate victory in the circle, allowing four runs on nine hits. Smiley struck out eight batters without issuing a walk. 

SVC moves to 3-1 overall and is back in action tomorrow against Wheaton (Ill.) and Simpson. First pitch is slated for 9 a.m. at Legends Way Park in Clermont.