Impressive start to conference play for CUA in sweep over Eagles

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Cardinals opened Landmark Conference play in strong fashion with a 10-0, 4-1 sweep of Juniata on Saturday.  Nina Curto went 3 for 3 with five RBI in game one, while in game two Erin McMakin threw a one-run complete game and went yard to lift CUA to its tenth win of the season.

With four runs in the first CUA wasted little time in jumping out to an early lead.  Mel Galella drew out a one-out walk and Kristen Trancynger was later walked with two outs.  A third walk, this one going to McMakin loaded the bases and brought up Tracey Scanlon.

Scanlon also walked, plating the first Cardinal run. A wild pitch brought in Trancynger and Curto’s double scored the other two runs.

Sam Daubman led the second inning off with a walk and came around on Galella’s single as CUA went in front 5-0.

Curto’s two-run homer in the third put CUA up 7-0 and the Cardinals were cruising.

The scoring didn’t end there though with two more Cardinals crossing in the fourth.  McMakin delivered a two-run single to increase CUA’s lead to nine runs.

Curto went yard again, this time in the fifth to put CUA up 10-0 and following a 1, 2, 3 bottom half of the inning the Cardinals clinched the game one win.

After going all five innings, striking out three and not allowing any runs Kerri Apicella earned the win in the circle for CUA, while Juniata’s Kelsea Decker suffered the setback.  She allowed nine earned runs in five innings, while walking six.

In game two CUA started slow, not scoring over the course of the first three innings.  Juniata took advantage by scoring once in the bottom of the third and the Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived though as CUA scored two runs in the fourth, which came on a two-run homer by McMakin.

The Cardinals added two more in the seventh, this time it was Stockinger who went deep, and CUA was in control 4-1.  Another 1, 2, 3 final inning ended it and gave the Cardinals an impressive road sweep.

McMakin went the distance in game two, striking out four and allowing just the one earned run.  Mason Kersey took the loss after she also went all seven innings, struck out one and allowed six hits.

The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, April 2 when they travel to take on league foe Susquehanna.  First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.