THE BASICS
Score (Game 1): Army 5, Holy Cross 2
Score (Game 2): Army 7, Holy Cross 1
Records: Army (12-15, 3-0 Patriot League) ; Holy Cross (1-7, 0-3 Patriot League)
Pitching Decision (Game 1): W: Caroline Smith (5-8) | L: Katy Watson (1-2)
Pitching Decision (Game 2): W: Kristen West (5-4) | L: Gennifer Durham (0-4)
Location: Army Softball Complex (West Point, N.Y.)
The Lead: Holy Cross dropped a pair of games versus Army on Sunday afternoon in Patriot League softball action at Army Softball Complex by scores of 5-2 and 7-1.

GAME 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Army and Holy Cross combined for five hits that scattered through the first four frames as neither team was able to get a runner across home plate.
• Alex Gaff bunt singled in the top of the fourth to kick off a four-run inning for the Black Knights. Gladys Esparza-Gallegos whacked a single to left-field, advancing Gaff to second and Alyssa Strobehn to third. With three runners on base, Kasey McCravey smashed a grand slam to left-center field and gave Army the 4-0  lead.
• The Crusaders came alive in the top of the sixth as freshman Taylor Moss (Howard Beach, N.Y.) kicked off the inning with a single to center field. Back-to-back singles by junior Emily Jarvis (Hopkinton, Mass.) and junior Becky Geddes (Cumberland, R.I.) brought in two runs, cutting the score in half at 4-2.
• SJ Aversa was able to advance on a fielder's choice and advanced to second base on a throwing error committed by the Crusaders. McCravey doubled to left center to drive in Aversa for the fifth Black Knights run.
• Freshman Savannah Young (Celebration, Fla.) singled to left field in the top of the seventh inning, but the Crusaders were unable to capitalize as Army took game one of the doubleheader by a final of 5-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Army outhit Holy Cross 8-6 through seven innings of play.
• Freshman Katy Watson took the loss (1-2) as she tossed 6.0 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, while walking three batters and striking out four.
• Army's starting pitcher, Caroline Smith, earned the win (5-8) as she pitched 7.0 innings, allowing two runs to cross home plate on six hits, while striking out two and walked one.

GAME 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Over the course of the second and third frames, Army got to junior pitcher Gennifer Durham (Abbeville, S.C.) for four runs on seven hits, giving the Black Knights the early 4-0 lead.
• Alee Rashenskas led off the second inning with a single to right field, advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored on a double down the left field line by Xiomara Perez.
• The lead was stretched to 4-0 following a three-run third on scoring singles by Kristen McPeek, Rashenskas and Alex Gaff.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Gladys Esperza-Gallegos highlighted a two-run inning with a single to center field that knocked in Kasey McCravey and crossed home plate herself on a single by Emily Gray to extend the lead to 6-0.
• Kristen West held Holy Cross to just one hit over the first five innings before Young singled to right field with one out in the top of the sixth inning, but retired the next two batters.
• The Black Knights added their seventh run in the bottom of the sixth on a double to left center off the bat of Rashenskas that scored McPeek.
• Army lost out on a shutout when junior Hailey Mullen (Plainville, Mass.) reached on a throwing error by West, advancing to third and later scored as sophomore Emily Krisanda (Oak Hill, Va.) grounded out to the shortstop in the bottom of the seventh. Senior Emma Keough (Rochester, Mass.) singled to the shortstop, but West then retired the next batter as Army took the 7-1 victory.

• Army outhit Holy Cross 12-3 through seven innings.
• Kristen West (5-4) earned the victory as she tossed 7.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking zero batters and striking out three.
• Durham took the loss (0-4) as she threw 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. The Holy Cross bullpen of senior Tori Cheske (Thomaston, Conn.) and sophomore Maggie Goldberg (Midlothian, Va.) pitched a combined 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, while striking out three and walking two.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return to the diamond on April 2 as they travel Hamden, Conn. for a midweek doubleheader versus Quinnipiac. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:30 as game two is set to begin at 4:30.

KEEP CONNECTED

• For everything Holy Cross softball, follow the team on Twitter @HCrossSoftball as well as Holy Cross Athletics @GoHolyCross.
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