WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross softball team dropped both games of their home opener losing 14-1 in six innings to Patriot League opponent Colgate in game one before falling 1-0 in a pitcher's duel during game two Saturday afternoon at a windy Freshman Field.

The two defeats send the Crusaders to 8-10, 2-3 PL while the Raiders (11-14, 2-0 PL) pick up their first two conference wins.

Holy Cross senior Kelly Nelson struck out 10 batters in game two reaching 488 career strikeouts. She needs 12 more for 500 in her collegiate career.
 
GAME ONE: RAIDERS 14, CRUSADERS 1 (FINAL – 6 INN.):

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Kaitlyn Borruso: W (6-1), 3.0 innings, three strikeouts, hit allowed, two walks
• Sophomore Megan Yurchick: L (2-9), 4.0 innings, three earned runs, eight hits, one strikeout, walk.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Steph Jacoby: 3-for-4, home run, double, five RBI, three runs scored.
• Quinn Livesay: 2-for-3, two doubles, RBI.
• Morgan Farrah: 2-for-2, two runs scored, walk.
• Taylor Ludwick: 1-for-4, double, RBI, three runs scored.
• Senior Erin Bengston: 1-for-2, walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Colgate took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Farrah singled off the Holy Cross first basemen's glove and the ball deflected into right plating the first run.
• The Crusaders threatened in the bottom of the second as a junior Bailey Bates two out single up the middle and a junior Kari Jacobson walk loaded the bases. The next batter struck out to end the inning.
• The Raiders tacked on to their edge in the top of the third when Jacoby bashed a three run homer to deep center on a 2-2 count to move ahead 4-0.
• A sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth increased the Colgate lead to 5-0.
• Holy Cross managed to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fourth and scored only one run when pinch runner, freshman Emma Fong came sliding into home off a wild pitch to make it 5-1.
• Colgate added on nine insurance runs the next two innings for the 14-1 win.

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

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Misken Bailey: W (3-9), 5.0 innings, two hits allowed, three walks allowed.
• Kelly Nelson: L (6-11), 7.0 innings, 10 strikeouts, five hits allowed, one earned run, walk.
• Kaitlyn Borruson: S (1), 2.0 innings, two strikeouts, walk, hit allowed.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Jillian Herbst: 2-for-3, RBI.
• Meaghan Houk: 2-for-3.
• Rebecca Johnson: 1-for-2, run scored.
• Jessica Mott: 1-for-3.
• Senior Bailey Chavez: 1-for-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Nelson was dealing through the first three frames striking out six batters.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Chavez went into the opposite field and lined a single into the left centerfield gap for the Crusaders' first hit of the contest.
• Some two out hitting, a Johnson bunt single to third combined with a Herbst 2-2 count single to center broke the deadlock 1-0 in favor of Colgate in the fifth.
• Holy Cross had a scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth. Kari Jacobson worked a walk and Mott singled through the left side. Colgate changed their pitcher to Borruso for the rest of the way. Chavez dug into the box and attempted a sacrifice bunt, but she popped it in the air. Borruso ended up inducing up a 4-6-3 double play to end the scoring threat.
• A Megan Yurchick single to right field began the bottom of the seventh. Senior Erin Bengston sacrificed her teammate over and sophomore Claire McCann worked a walk for runners at first and second with one away. Borruson punched out the final two hitters to wrap up the victory.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders end the series tomorrow when they play Colgate at noon. The contest will stream on ESPN+.

 
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