LEWISBURG, Pa.  – Late inning doubles by junior Erin Fleming (Townsend, Mass.) led the Holy Cross softball team to back-to-back Patriot League victories over Bucknell Sunday afternoon in Lewisburg, Pa. Holy Cross picks up its first league wins of the season, improving to 2-2 in the Patriot League (6-16 overall), while Bucknell suffered its first league losses of the year, falling to 2-2 in the Patriot League (10-10 overall).

Game 1

A single by junior Keeley Seniuk (Phoenix, Ariz.) in the bottom of the second inning led to Holy Cross' first run of the day. Seniuk single to left field and then moved up a bag on a single by sophomore Nicole Ortiz (Whittier, Calif.). Seniuk stole third and scored on a single by sophomore Gwen Reimer (Pottsville, Pa.) to give the Crusaders the one run advantage. Bucknell put together three hits and scored one run in the seventh inning to force the game into extra innings. Fleming led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double to right field, advanced to third on an illegal pitch and then scored on a single by Reimer to end the game in favor of the Crusaders, 2-1.

Junior Caitlin Belanger (Fall River, Mass.) pitched eight complete innings for Holy Cross. Belanger allowed one run on seven hits and struck out four batters. Holy Cross out-hit the Bison 9-7 and didn't commit any errors.

Game 2

Holy Cross took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when senior Mandy Correale (Peabody, Mass.) scored on an infield single by freshman Sam Fregenti (Melville, N.Y.). The Bison tied the game in the second inning, but Holy Cross regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Tiffany Medwid (Imperial, Pa.) took advantage of a misplay on a fielder's choice by Belanger to score and regain the lead for the Crusaders. Three runs by the Bison in the top of the seventh inning put the Crusaders up against the wall, but Holy Cross fought back and scored three in the bottom of the inning to win the game. Fleming led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a single by Seniuk. Fregenti walked to load the bases and Reimer picked up her third RBI of the day when she earned a walk to score Fleming. Senior Amanda Audette (New Bedford, Mass.) doubled to score two for Holy Cross, ending the game 5-4.

Freshman Jenna Legros (Sandy Hook, Conn.) started the game for the Crusaders and Belanger entered the game in the seventh inning to earn the win. They combined for four runs on six hits. Holy Cross out-hit Bucknell 10-6 and neither team made an error.

Holy Cross returns home to Freshman Field on Tuesday, April 6 when its hosts Harvard in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.