JACKSONVILLE – The Holy Cross softball program almost broke North Florida's winning streak, however they lost by a 1-0 score in game one before dropping the second contest 5-1 in spring break action in Florida.

The Crusaders slide to 2-9 with the defeats while the Ospreys won their 10th straight improving to 18-5 on the season. Holy Cross did snap North Florida's eight game shutout streak putting together one run in game two.
 
GAME ONE: OSPREY 1, CRUSADERS 0 (FINAL):

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Halle Arends: W (8-1), 4.0 innings, eight strikeouts, one walk, four hits allowed.
• Senior Kelly Nelson: L (1-5), 6.0 innings, seven strikeouts, one earned runs, three walks.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Kayla Harper: 1-for-2, inside the park home run, RBI, walk, run scored, stolen base.
• Paige Pfent: 1-for-3, double.
• Regan Hermeling: 1-for-2, double.
• Senior Bailey Chavez: 1-for-2, stolen base.
• Junior Olivia Eckelman: 1-for-3, stolen base.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Chavez singled through the right side in the top of the first and stole second with two away. She could not advance further. In the bottom half of the frame, Nelson worked around two free passes and did not allow a runner to score.
• In the away half of the second, Eckelman legged out an infield single with two away and was able to successfully steal second. She was stranded in scoring position.
• Harper lined an inside-the-park homer to left center for the lone run of the game in the bottom of the third.
• The next half inning, the Crusaders managed a first and second situation with no down and could not plate a runner over the next three batters.

 
GAME TWO: OSPREY 5, CRUSADERS 1 (FINAL):

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Erin Kyle: W (5-2), 4.2 innings, four hits allowed, one unearned run, three strikeouts.
• Kelly Nelson: L (1-6), 4.2 innings, three strikeouts, four runs – two earned.
• Halle Arends: S (1), 2.1 innings, four strikeouts, three walks, one hit.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Paige Pfent: 2-for-3, home run, two RBI, one runs scored.
• Shannon Glover: 2-for-3, double, two runs scored.
• Sophomore Jessica Mott: 2-for-4.
• Bailey Chavez: 2-for-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross broke into the scoring column first in the top of the third as Kari Jacobson scored via a wild pitch.
• One inning later, in the home half of the fourth, North Florida hung a two spot, one of them scored off an error and the other on a sacrifice fly.
• The hosts broke the contest open in the fifth was Pfent lofted a two-run shot to left center. Gover singled home the fifth and final run of the game.

 
DUE UP:

• The Crusaders travel west to Tallahassee and will play no. 3 nationally-ranked Florida State tomorrow at 6:00 p.m.