GAME ONE

Score: Holy Cross 7, Hampton 4
Records: Holy Cross (1-0); Hampton (0-5)
Pitching Decision: W: Alexandra Held (1-0) | L: Allie Hotetz (0-2)
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C. (Brinkley Stadium)
The Lead: Junior first baseman Taylor Moss led the Crusaders at the plate with four hits and three RBIs, as the Holy Cross softball team captured a 7-4 win over Hampton in its season opener at the Runnin' Bulldog Tournament on Friday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with senior second baseman Emily Krisanda reaching on a fielder's choice play. With two outs, Moss hit a double to center field to bring Krisanda home for the first run of the game.
• The Pirates answered in the top of the second to briefly lock the game at 1-1 on two hits and a sacrifice fly hit to left field.
• However, the Crusaders battled back in the bottom of the second, scoring the go-ahead run to reclaim the lead, 2-1. Junior left fielder Gabby Muniz smashed a triple down the right field line, as senior right fielder Kylee Malouf brought her home on an infield single.
• Hampton responded in the top of the third, rallying for three runs on four hits and an error to take a 4-2 lead. Holy Cross then answered in the bottom of the third, matching the Pirates' three-run spurt and moving out to a 5-4 advantage. The Crusaders had five hits during this span with junior third baseman Mandy McCarthy and junior catcher Savannah Young combining for three RBIs.
• Holy Cross refused to look back from there, holding its two-run lead through the next two innings and tacking on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to complete the 7-4 victory with Moss earning two more RBIs.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Hits were 14-10 in favor of Holy Cross.
• The Pirates left six runners on base, while Holy Cross left seven.
• Sophomore pitcher Alexandra Held earned the win, notching six strikeouts and allowing four runs (three unearned) through the first five innings. Sophomore pitcher Olivia Sloane closed the game, picking up one strikeout.
• Allie Hotetz took the loss for Hampton, pitching four innings and allowing five earned runs with two strikeouts.

GAME TWO

Score: Holy Cross 4, Gardner-Webb 2
Records: Holy Cross (2-0); Gardner-Webb (2-8)
Pitching Decision: W: Alexandra Held (2-0) | L: Mackenzie Thompson (1-4)
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C. (Brinkley Stadium)
The Lead: Sophomore shortstop Taylor Wahler led the Holy Cross softball team with three hits and an RBI, as the Crusaders reached their second win of the day with a 4-2 victory over Gardner-Webb at the Runnin' Bulldog Tournament on Friday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After two scoreless innings, the action picked up in the third inning with Holy Cross jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Freshman catcher Sydney Burr sparked the scoring for Holy Cross, leading off the inning with a home run to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
• Wahler then hit an RBI single before crossing the plate on a passed ball to give the Crusaders a 3-0 edge.
• The Runnin' Bulldogs responded with the next two runs, tallying a score in the bottom of the third inning, before plating another in the fourth inning on a sacrifice grounder to narrow the gap to one run (3-2).
• Holy Cross tallied another run in the top of the sixth inning with Young hitting an RBI single to center field to bring in Muniz, as the Crusaders expanded out to a 4-2 advantage.
• The Crusaders held off Gardner-Webb through the final inning with junior pitcher Katy Watson recording two strikeouts, as Holy Cross captured its second win of the day with the 4-2 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Holy Cross led in hits, 7-3
• The Runnin' Bulldogs left six runners on base, while Holy Cross left four.
• Held earned her second season win of the day, while pitching the first three innings and allowing one run. Sloane relieved Held for one inning before Watson closed and pitched through the final three innings, amounting five strikeouts.
• Thompson took the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing three runs on five hits through four innings.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The last time the Crusaders won their season opener was in 2009 when Holy Cross defeated Dayton, 9-2.
• This marked the first time Holy Cross has opened its season with two wins in 17 years, since the 2000 season when the Crusaders started off 2-0.
• Holy Cross is now 2-0 all-time versus Hampton, as well as Gardner-Webb.
• Burr hit her first career home run.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders continue action at the Runnin' Bulldog Tournament tomorrow with two more games. First, the Crusaders will face Hampton at 10:00 a.m. before taking on Gardner-Webb at 12:00 p.m.

KEEP CONNECTED:

• Follow the Crusaders on Twitter @HCrossSoftball and on Facebook. You can also get the latest news and results on the team sent directly to your e-mail. To sign up for e-mail alerts go here.