MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Holy Cross softball team won a pair of games at The Spring Games tournament Friday. The Crusaders first defeated Merrimack, 4-2, followed by a 3-0 victory over St. Bonaventure in which senior
Katie Barbarick threw her first collegiate no-hitter.
Barbarick highlighted a strong day by the Holy Cross pitching staff going the full seven innings giving up no hits and no runs, while striking out one. Sophomore
Kelly Nelson got the start in the first game and also went the entire way, while striking out nine and giving up two runs and four hits.
At the plate, freshman
Bailey Bates was on fire all day going 5-for-8 with two runs, an RBI, a triple, and a stolen base. Sophomore
Jessie Nagel and freshman
Olivia Eckelman each had three-hit days with Nagel picking up a run, an RBI, a double, and two walks, while Eckelman scored a run and had two RBI, three walks, and a stolen base.
Sophomores
Bailey Chavez and
Erin Bengston each had two hits on the day with Chavez snagging an RBI and Bengston an RBI and a double. Freshman
Kari Jacobson had two hits and scored a run. Senior
Sydney Behrens and freshman
Kaci Neveling each had a hit and a walk. Junior
Bella Jankowski got a hit, scored a run, drove another in, was hit by a pitch, and walked.
Junior
Alyssa Gutierrez and senior
Molly Neil both stole a base, while senior
Kelly Crowley saw her first collegiate action on a softball field when she came on to pinch run and scored.
Game 1 vs. Merrimack
Bottom One
- Bates tripled with two outs and scored when Nagel doubled down the left field line to take the lead.
Bottom Two
- Again with two outs, Jankowski was hit by a pitch, Eckelman and Neveling walked, and then Jankowski would score on a hard ground ball to third by Chavez to increase the lead to two.
Top Five
- The Warriors started the inning with a triple, but Nelson struck out the next two batters and got a pop out to end the inning.
Bottom Five
- Bates singled through the right side and followed it up by stealing second.
- Bengston got her first double of the year and drove Bates home on the play.
Bottom Six
- Jankowski singled to start the frame and Gutierrez came on to pinch run.
- Eckelman singled and then she and Gutierrez stole second and third respectively.
- Bates made it 4-0 when she singled through the left side.
Top Seven
- With two on and two out, Merrimack doubled to make it 4-2.
- Nelson got a ground out to first for the win.
Game 2 vs. St. Bonaventure
Bottom Three
- St. Bonaventure walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch to start the inning.
- Jankowski made an impressive diving play on a popped up bunt for the first out and then a fly ball to left field turned into a double play to end the inning.
Top Four
- Nagel started the inning with a walk and she advanced to second when Behrens singled. Crowley came on to pinch run for Behrens.
- Jacobson singled to center to move both Nagel and Crowley over.
- The Crusaders took the lead when Jankowski walked in a run and Eckelman followed with a single to bring home two more.
Bottom Five
- With one out, a Bonnie drilled a grounder down the third base line. Jankowski dove, made the stop, propped herself up on both knees, and threw a bullet to first for the out.
Bottom Seven
- Bates made a beautiful diving play at short for the first out of the inning.
- Barbarick finished off the no-hitter with a fly out to right and another ground out to short.
UP NEXT
The Crusaders continue play at The Spring Games tomorrow with a pair of games against South Dakota State at 4:30 p.m. and Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m.
