WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross softball senior pitcher
Kelly Nelson became the program's all-time strikeout leader as the Crusaders split a non-conference doubleheader falling 5-2 in eight innings in game one before shutting out Sacred Heart 6-0 in game two Thursday afternoon at Freshman Field.
The split sends the Crusaders to 18-29 overall while the Pioneers move to 13-35.
Nelson achieved the milestone in the top half of the fifth inning. Nelson recorded three strikeouts in the frame including the record-breaking 580th punch out of Morgan Teodosio on a 3-2 pitch. She finished the game with 11 strikeouts giving her 584 in her career as she surpassed the 23 year old mark of 579 by Genoa Grosch (1996-99). Nelson also reestablished her own single-season record with her 209th strikeout.
Senior
Erin Bengston walked once in each game giving her 28 free passes on the year which is the new single season record. She surpassed Megan Gaffney's total of 27 set back in 1995.
Senior
Bailey Chavez's hitting streak extended to eight games combining to go 4-for-6 with two runs scored across both games. Chavez has multi-hits in four straight games and is hitting .518 (14-for-27) during the streak with four RBI, two doubles, and six runs scored. She's raised her batting average from .204 to .267 in the eight game stretch.
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GAME ONE: PIONEERS 5, CRUSADERS 2 (FINAL – 8 INN.):
IN THE CIRCLE:
- Sarah Lawton: W (9-15), complete game, seven strikeouts, one earned run, eight hits, four walks.
- Kelly Nelson: L (12-16), complete game, 11 strikeouts, three earned runs, seven hits, two walks.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Jenna Mowad: 2-for-4, RBI.
- Morgan Teodosio: 1-for-4, two RBI.
- Kylee Gurysh: 1-for-4, double RBI.
- Bailey Chavez: 2-for-3, run scored, stolen base.
- Sophomore Claire McCann: 2-for-3, RBI, walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sacred Heart loaded the bases via two errors to start the game and a walk. An RBI groundout off the bat of Teodosio plated the first run before Nelson struck out a batter the end the scoring threat.
- Teodosio singled through the left side to score another run in the top of the third increasing the margin to 2-0.
- Chavez legged out an infield single, her second of the game in the third and two batters later, McCann singled up the middle scoring her teammate from second cutting the margin to 2-1.
- In the fifth inning, Nelson punched out the side working around a base runner and achieved the program record on a 3-2 count to Teodosio.
- Holy Cross leveled the score in the next half inning when McCann flew out to left field, but the throw home was wild scoring sophomore Jessica Mott making it 2-2.
- The contest reached extra innings and the Pioneers had some two out RBIs with a Haile Ebert single to center being the difference maker.
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GAME TWO: CRUSADERS 6, PIONEERS 0 (FINAL):
IN THE CIRCLE:
- Sophomore Megan Yurchick: W (6-13), complete game, shutout, three hits allowed, two walks, one strikeout.
- Olivia Vadas: L (1-12) 3.0 innings pitched, five hits allowed, two earned runs, two walks, strikeout.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the third, the Crusaders scored the first run when Mott crossed the plate via a wild pitch. Yurchick helped her own cause singling up the middle and adding to the score, 2-0.
- Back-to-back singles via McCann and Nagel in the fourth with the lead already 3-0 in favor of the Crusaders upped the margin to 5-0.
- In the sixth, Eckelman singled to third for the final insurance run.
DUE UP:
- The Crusaders will be back in action next Wednesday, May 4 for a non-conference showdown with Siena at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.
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