JACKSONVILLE – The Holy Cross softball program dropped two close decisions to Jacksonville, a 1-0 pitcher's duel in game one and a 3-1 setback in the second game of the doubleheader Sunday at the Pruitt Softball Complex.

The two setbacks send the Crusaders to 2-7 overall while the Dolphins glide to 6-13.
 
GAME ONE: DOLPHINS 1, CRUSADERS 0 (FINAL):

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Skylar Whitty: W (4-5), 7.0 innings, complete game, shutout, seven strikeouts, two hits allowed, two walks.
• Senior Kelly Nelson: L (1-4), 6.0 innings, complete game, one earned run, six strikeouts, three hits allowed, two walks.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Allison Baratek: 2-for-3, double, one run scored.
• Averi Harcus: 1-for-1, double, one RBI.
• Sophomore Megan Yurchick: 1-for-3.
• Junior Kari Jacobson: 1-for-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Jacksonville scored the lone run in the bottom of the second. Bratek led off the game doubling to left field on the first pitch she saw. Nelson struck out the next two batters, but Harcus delivered with a 1-1 double to left to plate Baratek. Runners eventually were at second and third, but Nelson sent the final batter of the inning away swinging for the final out.
• Holy Cross only could muster hits in the top of the fourth and fifth innings as Whitty stymied their bats.

 
GAME TWO: DOLPHINS 3, CRUSADERS 1 (FINAL):

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Shelby Harpe: W (2-7), 7.0 innings, complete game, one earned run, five hits allowed, three walks, two strikeouts.
• Megan Yurchick: L (1-3), 1.0 inning, three earned runs, four hits allowed.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Madison Reynolds: 2-for-4, triple, run scored, stolen base.
• Allison Bratek: 1-for-2, triple, RBI.
• Sophomore Claire McCann: 1-for-3, home run, RBI.
• Senior Jessie Nagel: 1-for-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Jacksonville scored all three of their runs in the home half of the first. Reynolds smacked a lead-off triple to left and came around to score on a wild pitch. Allison Bratek tripled to right making it 2-0 and Caroline Watson singled to bring her in teammate making it 3-0.
• In the top of the second, Nagel and junior Bailey Bates singled to lead off the frame and advanced into scoring position, second and third on a passed ball. The next three batters all roped the ball, but right at the fielders leaving the runners on their respective bases.
• McCann homered in the top of the seventh, her first career round tripper putting the squad down 3-1. Holy Cross could not get anything else going as they suffered the loss.

 
DUE UP:

• Holy Cross will square off at North Florida (16-5) on Tuesday, March 8 for a double-header at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.