LEWISBURG, Pa. – Holy Cross softball sophomore Claire McCann produced two clutch pinch hit singles as her base knocks were the difference in the Crusaders 2-1 and 1-0 Patriot League opening wins at Bucknell Saturday afternoon.

McCann came up in the top of the fourth and legged out an infield hit to give the Crusaders (7-16, 2-0 PL) the 2-1 lead, an advantage they wouldn't relinquish in game one. Her timely hitting continued in game two in the top of the fifth with two outs slapping an opposite field single to left to hand Bucknell (3-22, 0-2 PL) the 1-0 shutout loss.

2022 Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year, senior Kelly Nelson had a pristine league play opener tallying 9.1 scoreless innings across both games striking out 10 total batters, walking three, and allowing only two hits. She earned her third career save in game one and picked up the win in game two.
 
GAME ONE: CRUSADERS 2, BISON 1 (FINAL):

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Sophomore Megan Yurchick: W (2-7), 4.2 innings, four strikeouts, three hits allowed, three walks.
• Kelly Toomey: L (3-10), 7.0 innings, complete game, eight strikeouts, six hits allowed, three walks, two earned runs.
• Kelly Nelson: S (1), 2.1 innings, two strikeouts, walk.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Senior Jessie Nagel: 2-for-4, RBI
• Freshman Callie Thibault: 2-for-3, double.
• Senior Erin Bengston: 1-for-2, run scored, walk.
• Sophomore Claire McCann: 1-for-1, RBI
• Elena Horn: 1-for-3, run, walk
• Zoie Smith: 1-for-3, RBI

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sophomore Jessica Mott worked a walk to lead off the ball game. She moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Nagel singled to left plating Mott for the game's first run as the Crusaders led 1-0.
• Bucknell loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first. Yurchick settled down and struck out Sarah Baluch and Juliette Basso grounded out weakly to end the frame.
• In the third, Bucknell leveled the score 1-1 when Smith singled to centerfield plating Horn.
• Three hits in the next half inning for the guests help push them back in front. Bengston singled to center and Thibault doubled a batter later as runners were at second and third with one out. McCann came off the bench as a pinch hitter with two down and legged out an infield single to make it a 2-1 game.
• Nelson relieved Yurchick and tossed 2.1 innings picking up her third career save.

 
GAME TWO: CRUSADERS 1, BISON 0 (FINAL):

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Kelly Nelson: W (5-9), 7.0 innings, complete game, shutout, eight strikeouts, two walks, two hits allowed.
• Olivia Marineli L (0-5), 7.0 innings, complete game, unearned run, three strikeouts, six hits allowed.  

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Callie Thibault: 2-for-3.
• Jessica Mott: 1-for-3, double.
• Jessie Nagel: 1-for-3, double.
• Junior Olivia Eckelman: 1-for-2, double, stolen base, run scored.
• Claire McCann: 1-for-1.
• Zoie Smith: 1-for-2, walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The contest did not see a lot of action until the top of the fifth. Before that inning, the Crusaders had a total of two base runners, a Thibault single and Mott double in separate frames. With one down, Eckelman ripped a two bagger into the right centerfield gap. The next batter was retired and McCann singled to left bringing home Eckelman who was awarded the run on an obstruction call.
• The guests tried to add insurance in the top of the sixth when Nagel doubled with one out, but they could not advance her as the Bison shortstop put away the next two outs.
• In the seventh, a first and third situation turned into runners in scoring position as Eckelman swiped the second base bag for her sixth steal of the season. The inning ended when a Holy Cross batter lined into an inning ending double play.
• Nelson made quick work in the bottom of the seventh striking out the side in order to preserve the win.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross looks to complete the weekend sweep of Bucknell tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

 
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