WORCESTER, Mass. – Thanks to a couple of impressive pitching performances and timely offense, the Holy Cross softball team took two games from Maine in Wednesday's home opener. The Crusaders, playing their first games at Freshman Field in 692 days, were victorious by scores of 5-1 and 3-0.

Holy Cross' success on the day started in the circle with Megan Yurchick and Kelly Nelson. Yurchick got the start in game one and went the full seven innings giving up zero earned runs, zero walks, five hits, and striking out four. In game two, Nelson also went the complete game while giving up zero runs and zero walks, just two hits, and fanning 11 batters.

Jessie Nagel had a huge day at the plate as the junior went 5-for-6 with a home run, three doubles, three runs, and three RBI. Bella Jankowski continued her hot streak as she went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs, one RBI, and one walk. Erin Bengston had two doubles, three RBI, one run, and one walk. Yurchick added to her day in the circle with a single and one RBI at the plate.

GAME 1: HC 5, MAINE 1
The Crusaders opened the scoring in game one when Jankowski led the second inning off with a walk and Bengston immediately doubled to right center to drive her home. A couple plays later, Kari Jacobson singled down the left field line to bring Bengston home.

In the fifth, Nagel doubled with one out and Jankowski followed with a single. They would both score on Bengston's second double of the game. After Morgan Jensen came on to pinch run, the freshman scored on Yurchick's ground ball to second.

Yurchick, who at one point retired seven-straight batters, found herself in a little bit of a jam in the top of the seventh after a single and an error. A run would cross the plate, unearned after the error, but Yurchick would put a stop to the bleeding as she got the final out of the game with a strikeout.

GAME 2: HC 3, MAINE 0
Holy Cross started the second game on high note when Nagel homered in the bottom of the first. Bailey Bates also scored on the play after she drew a leadoff walk. In the circle, Nelson recorded all nine outs in the first three innings by strikeout.

The game remained 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth. Nagel picked up her second double of the game, and third of the day, and scored when Jankowski doubled in the next at bat.

After two second-inning singles, Nelson retired 16-straight batters to seal the win. Bates made a beautiful diving play in foul territory in the top of the seventh to record the first out, and the final two came with fly outs to right and center field.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Of the four Holy Cross hits in the second game, three belonged to Nagel, a pair of doubles and a home run.
• Jankowski has now reached base safely in all eight games this season and is currently on a five-game hitting streak.
• In the two wins, Yurchick and Nelson combined in the circle for 14 innings pitched, zero earned runs, zero walks, seven hits, and 15 strikeouts.
• Nelson has moved into second place all-time in program history with 311 career strikeouts.

UP NEXT:
The Crusaders will play their first full four-game Patriot League series this weekend when they take on Bucknell in a pair of doubleheaders in Worcester. The games will start at 12:30 p.m. on both Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4.