WORCESTER, Mass. – Extra innings were needed on Freshman Field Thursday afternoon as the Holy Cross softball team fell 3-2 in eight frames to nonconference opponent Siena.

The loss sends the Crusaders to 14-29-1 while the Saints improve their record to 29-12 overall.

Freshman starting pitcher Sophia Roncone earned a hard luck loss as she stymied the high powered Saints who currently are in first place in the MAAC conference. Roncone retired 16 straight batters until a bunt single in the eighth broke that stretch.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth, freshman Ali Sniegocki lined a double into right center field to bring the deficit to one. Holy Cross eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but Siena starter Ava Fitzmaurice struck out the final batter to secure the victory.
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Ava Fitzmaurice: W, (11-4), complete game, seven hits allowed, two runs – one earned, four walks, nine strikeouts.
• Freshman Sophia Roncone: L, (6-14), complete game, five hits allowed, three runs – two earned, three walks, two strikeouts.  

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Angelina Stile: 2-for-4, double, RBI.
• Isabella Pardo: 2-for-4, run scored.
• Emma McLaughlin: 1-for-3, double, RBI.
• Ali Sniegocki: 2-for-4, double, RBI.
• Junior Morgan Jensen: 1-for-2, walk, stolen base.
• Sophomore Callie Thibault: 1-for-4, RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Siena loaded the bases in the first. Roncone notched a strikeout blowing a pitch down the pipe and a lineout to left field stranded the bases jacked.
• With two outs in the home half of the first, Thibault singled to right center to bring in Brait from second base for the 1-0 Crusader lead.
• A walk and a double deep off center field fence from the swing of McLaughlin tied the contest in the top of the second. A walk put another runner on, however the Crusaders danced out of trouble to keep the score even.
• The Crusaders had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the fourth. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners and Fitzmaurice struck out the last batter of the inning to strand two on base.
• In extras, Fitzmaurice grounded out to short to drive home a run. Stile followed barreling a double to left which plated an important insurance run to increase the edge to 3-1.
• Holy Cross countered with Sniegocki bashed a double in the bottom of the eighth to pull the team back within one. The Crusaders loaded the bases, but could not deadlock the game.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders will be back in action on Saturday, April 22 for a Patriot League three game weekend set with Bucknell.
• First pitch is slated for noon.

 
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