WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross softball team started off the week with a victory beating nonconference opponent Brown 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon at Freshman Field before falling by a 9-1 score in seven innings during game two.

The split sends the Crusaders to 9-27 on the year while the Bears move to 9-20.
 
GAME ONE: CRUSADERS 2, BEARS 1 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Junior Megan Yurchick: ND, 3.1 innings pitched, four hits allowed, one strikeout.
• Erin Elgas: L, (0-5), 4.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, two earned runs, five walks, two strikeouts.

IN RELIEF:

• Freshman Sophia Roncone: W, (3-12), 3.2 innings pitched, three hits allowed, earned run, three strikeouts.
• Jodie Aguirre: 2.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, three strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Senior Bailey Bates: 1-for-1, two walks, stolen base.
• Freshman Anna Brait: 1-for-2, RBI, walk.
• Junior Jessica Mott: 1-for-2, run scored, walk.
• Senior Kari Jacobson: 1-for-2, RBI.
• Dara English: 2-for-3, double.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Brait belted a single the opposite way off the wall in left field scoring Mott.
• In the top of the fourth, Brown threatened with a single and a double to chase Yurchick from the game. Yurchick remained in the game and made a sensational diving play on a popped bunt in foul territory for the second out of the inning. Roncone, who relieved Yurchick induced an inning ending groundout. 
• Some two out hitting for the Crusaders in the fourth extended the lead to 2-0 as Jacobson slapped an opposite field single to left to score another run to make it 2-0.
• Brown attempted a rally in the top of the seventh as a one out single and double put the tying run in scoring position. A wild pitch scored a run and moved the tying run to third base. Roncone settled down and punched out the final two batters of the game to clinch the victory.

 
GAME TWO: BEARS 9, CRUSADERS 1 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Senior Peyton Morehouse: L, (0-1), 3.1 innings pitched, three hits allowed, four runs – one earned, two walks.
• Annie Finch: W, (1-6): complete game, five hit allowed, earned run, walk, three strikeouts.

IN RELIEF:

• Sophia Roncone: 2.2 innings pitched, four hits allowed, two earned runs, three walks, strikeout.
• Senior: Audrey Gusel: 1.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, three runs – two earned, two walks.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Nikki Tanguay: 2-for-4, two RBI.
• Vanessa Alexander: 2-for-3, double, two RBI, two runs scored.
• Jayme Gross: 2-for-2, RBI, stolen base, run scored, walk.
• Jessica Mott: 1-for-3, home run, RBI, run scored.
• Freshman Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-3, double.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Brown took the first lead in the top of the third when Jasmine Hsiao doubled off the center field fence for the 1-0 lead. Another run came across on a throwing error to push the margin to 2-0.
• Mott countered in the bottom of the third belting a 2-2 offering over the left field fence for the solo shot to pull the Crusaders within one at 2-1.
• A two out two RBI single up the middle for the Bears in the top of the fifth expanded their lead to 4-1.
• Over the next two frames the Bears tacked on five insurance runs.

 
DUE UP:

• The Crusaders hit the road on Wednesday, April 12 for a nonconference doubleheader with Merrimack.
• First pitch is slated for 3 and 5 p.m.

 
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