KINGSTON, R.I. – The Holy Cross softball team split a doubleheader with Rhode Island Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders won the first game 7-1, but fell in the second 2-1.
Mel Leach had a breakout day at the plate for Holy Cross going 4-for-6 with a home run, double, one RBI, one run, and was also hit by a pitch.
Erin Bengston also had a good day as she went 3-for-6 with a double, two RBI, two walks, and was hit by a pitch.
Bella Jankowski was 2-for-2 with two RBI, three walks, and a hit by pitch.
Bailey Bates and
Kari Jacobson each scored twice.
In the circle,
Megan Yurchick got the start in game one and pitched the first three innings giving up just one run, while walking one and striking out one. She also made a relief appearance in game two.
Kelly Nelson came on in relief in game one and got the win, and started and threw 6.1 innings in game two. On the day she went 10.1 innings, while allowing seven hits, one run, four walks, and striking out 14.
GAME 1: HC 7, URI 1
The first game of the day started off slow with neither side getting on the scoreboard through the first two innings. In the bottom of the third, the Rams' Pleasic homered to right center. Lucky for the Crusaders, no one else was on board.
From there on out, it was all Holy Cross. Leach answered back with her first collegiate hit, a solo shot of her own, in the fourth. The Crusaders would also plate a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings thanks to a Yurchick grounder and a Jankowski walk.
The seventh is when they would really open things up. One run was scored on each of a Gutierrez double and a Horton ground out, while a Bengston double brought two home.
Nelson came on in relief and pitched the final four innings giving up zero runs, just two hits, and striking out seven. She struck out two URI batters in the seventh and got the final out on a pop up to Jacobson at second.
GAME 2: URI 2, HC 1
After a walk and two doubles, the Rams took a 1-0 lead in the second. Nelson worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and a line out to short.
In both the third and fourth innings the Crusaders got a runner to third, but weren't able to get them any further. Leach was stranded there in the third after leading the inning off with a single and Yurchick was left on third in the fourth after a single of her own.
Nelson worked out of a second bases loaded situation in the fourth, this time without giving up a run as she got the third out with a backwards K.
Holy Cross was finally able to get a runner home from third base in the fifth. Leach led the inning off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Morgan Jensen came on to pinch run and scored when Jankowski sent a deep foul ball to left. It was caught, but was deep enough to allow Jensen to tag and score.
The Crusaders weren't able to manufacture any more runs in the final two innings, while URI again loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, an error allowed the winning run to cross the plate for the Rams.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- On the young season, Jankowski leads the team with an .800 average, 1.618 OPS, and .800 on-base percentage.
- Nelson's 21 strikeouts through the first three games have pushed her to fourth place all-time in program history with 271. Third place is just 17 Ks away at 288.
ON DECK:
The Crusaders will play their fourth game of the weekend tomorrow at Bryant beginning at 11 a.m.
