HAMDEN, Conn. – The Holy Cross softball team played their first mid-week contests of the season and fell to nonconference opponent Quinnipiac twice, 5-1 in game one and 8-0 in game two Tuesday afternoon at the Quinnipiac Softball Field.

The losses send the Crusaders to 5-16 while the Bobcats improve to 11-8.
 
GAME ONE: BOBCATS 5, CRUSADERS 1 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Sydney Horan: W, (7-3), complete game, one earned run, two strikeouts, five hits allowed.
• Junior Megan Yurchick: L, (4-8), 6.0 innings pitched, five earned runs, eight hits, five walks.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Natalia Apatiga: 2-for-2, RBI, walk, run scored.
• Layla Pascual: 2-for-2, double, two RBI.
• Serena Fogg: 1-for-3, triple, run scored.
• Junior Jessica Mott: 2-for-3, double, run scored.
• Freshman Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-3, RBI.
• Junior Claire McCann: 1-for-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Mott led off the game smoking a double into left center field. With two outs, Sniegocki lined a single off the pitcher for an infield hit which resulted in the first run of the game.
• Quinnipiac countered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back walks led to an RBI single to center to level the score. A sacrifice bunt coupled with a single to right brought home two more runs for the 3-1 Bobcat edge.
• In the fourth, a double by the hosts expanded their lead to 4-1. An insurance run in the sixth added onto the QU margin.

 
GAME TWO: BOBCATS 8, CRUSADERS 0 (FINAL – 5 INN.):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Jaclyn Gonzalez: W, (4-5) complete game, shutout, three hits allowed, two strikeouts, three walks.
• Freshman Sophia Roncone: L, (1-7), 4.2 innings pitched, six hits allowed, three earned runs, two strikeouts.

IN RELIEF:

• Senior Peyton Morehouse: 0.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Layla Pascual: 3-for-3, two doubles, two RBI.
• Serena Hogg: 1-for-3, double, two RBI.
• Megan Yurchick: 1-for-2, double.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Quinnipiac notched the first hit of the game in the home half of the third via a lead off double. The runner came home to score thanks to an RBI single for early 1-0 lead.
• An RBI groundout and a double tacked insurance tallies to the advantage at 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
• In the fifth, the Crusaders put two runners on to start the frame, but QU gunned a runner out at home to keep the game scoreless.
• The Bobcats poured on five in the fifth inning to complete the run rule.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders open up Patriot League play this weekend with a three game set at Army West Point.
• First pitch is slated for 12 and 2 p.m. on Saturday.

 
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