HANOVER, N.H. – In the first matchup between the two programs in almost 20 years, the Holy Cross softball team managed a split with non-conference opponent Dartmouth falling 4-1 in game one and earning a 5-0 shutout victory in game two Wednesday afternoon at the Softball Park.
The Crusaders move to 8-18 following the two games while the Big Green are 5-19 after the contests. Senior
Kelly Nelson tossed her 10th complete game and third shutout of the season in game two with seven strikeouts.
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GAME ONE: BIG GREEN 4, CRUSADERS 1 (FINAL):
IN THE CIRCLE:
- Brooke Plonka: W (4-9), 7.0 innings, complete game, eight strikeouts, five hits allowed, one earned run.
- Sophomore Megan Yurchick: L (2-8), 4.1 innings, two strikeouts, one walk, seven hits allowed, four earned runs.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Alaana Panu: 1-for-3, home run, two RBI, run scored.
- Mary Beth Cahalan: 2-for-3, two RBI, stolen base, run scored.
- Maddie Katona: 2-for-2, double, run scored.
- Yurchick: 2-for-3, run scored.
- Sophomore Jessica Mott: 1-for-3, double.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the home half of the first, back-to-back singles for Katona and Billie McFadyen with a McFadyen steal put runners at second and third with one out. Yurchick was able to manufacture two groundouts to strand both runners in scoring position.
- Yurchick helped her own cause in the top of the second leading off with a single. Senior Erin Bengston followed flaring a single into shallow center field. Freshman Callie Thibault dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runner then, sophomore Claire McCann brought home in the run via an RBI groundout.
- Dartmouth broke through in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead. Cahalan singled up the middle scoring two runs and Panu skied a two run homer to left field with two outs.
- In the top of the sixth, Mott began the frame with a two-bagger, but her teammates couldn't drive her in to close the gap.
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GAME TWO: CRUSADERS 5, BIG GREEN 0 (FINAL):
IN THE CIRCLE:
- Kelly Nelson: W (6-10), 7.0 innings, complete game, shutout, seven strikeouts, two walks, three hits allowed.
- Megan Hagge L (0-4), 4.0 innings, three runs - two earned runs, two strikeouts, walk, six hits allowed. Â
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Two straight singles, an Erin Bengston opposite field smack down the right field line, and a Claire McCann infield hit put runners at first and second with no outs in the top of the second. The next two Crusader batters grounded into fielder's choices and the lead runner was gunned down at third both times. Whipple stepped to the plate and popped out to end the scoring threat.
- The Crusaders took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Nagel lined a pinch hit, two-RBI double down the right field line for some timely two out hitting. An error extended the frame and Mott dropped in a bloop single to left to up the score to 3-0.
- During the next half inning, a hit by pitch followed by a junior Olivia Eckelman steal put her at second. Bengston worked a walk for runners at first and second. A pop out and a four-six-three double play wrapped up the scoring threat.
- Two more runs came across for Holy Cross when Whipple mashed a double into the gap for her first career RBI and Mott converted a successful squeeze play for the 5-0 advantage.
DUE UP:
- The Crusaders open up their home slate this weekend when they return to Patriot League play for a three game set with Colgate starting Saturday, April 2 at noon.
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