BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Holy Cross softball program began its Patriot League slate on Saturday at Lehigh falling twice to the Mountain Hawks 5-1 and 4-1 at Leadership Park.

The defeats send the Crusaders to 7-15, 0-2 PL while the victories push host Lehigh to 15-14, 5-0 PL.

Sophomore Ali Sniegocki was 3-for-6 (.500) across both games with a double and an RBI. The center fielder has reached base in 17 straight games dating back to March 3. She is slashing .390/.419/.627 for a 1.046 OPS with three home runs, 13 RBI, five doubles, 11 runs scored, two walks and two stolen bases during that stretch.

Freshmen Emma Pietrzak and Ava Gambichler were 2-for-6 (.333) across both games. It was the fourth multiple hit game of the season for Gambichler and second for Pietrzak.
 
GAME ONE: MOUNTAIN HAWKS 5, CRUSADERS 1 (FINAL)
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Katelyn Young: W, (9-7), complete game, five hits allowed, earned run, walk, 12 strikeouts.
• Senior Megan Yurchick: L, (4-7), complete game, four hits allowed, four earned runs, two walks, three strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Ava Gambichler: 2-for-3, double, run scored.
• Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-3, double RBI.
• Emma Pietrzak: 2-for-3.
• Rory Dudley: 1-for-3, two RBI.
• Gracie Smith: 1-for-3, double, run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Back-to-back two-out doubles by Gambichler and Sniegocki pushed the Crusaders ahead 1-0 in the top of the third. Holy Cross tried to sneak another run across, but was gunned down at the plate for the final out of the inning.
• Lehigh got their first baserunner in the top of the fourth with a one-out double. On a 2-2 pitch with two away, a two RBI single through the left side pushed the Mountain Hawks ahead 2-1.
• In the fifth, the Mountain Hawks loaded the bases and added a run on a full count free pass to lead 3-1. They tacked on two more insurance runs for the 5-1 edge.

 
GAME TWO: MOUNTAIN HAWKS 4, CRUSADERS 1 (FINAL)
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Maria Urban: W, (5-1), complete game, six hits allowed, one run – zero earned, two walks, strikeout.
• Sophomore Sophia Roncone: L, (2-7), complete game, five hits allowed, three earned runs, two walks, six strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Ali Sniegocki: 2-for-3.
• Junior Callie Thibault: 1-for-3, run scored.
• Senior Morgan Jensen: 1-for-3, RBI.
• Megan Yurchick 1-for-2, double, sacrifice.
• Peyton Sward: 2-for-3, two doubles, RBI.
• Brooke Cannon: 1-for-3, double, two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the first, Sniegocki singled to extend her reached base streak to 17 games.
• Lehigh took the 1-0 lead slapping an opposite field RBI double in the bottom of the third. The Mountain Hawks loaded the bases, but Roncone got a strikeout to strand the runners.
• Jensen knotted the contest with an RBI single through the left side in the top of the fourth.
• A full count, two-RBI double with two outs in the home half of the fifth pushed Lehigh back in front 3-1.
• A throwing error tacked on an insurance run for Lehigh in the sixth.

 
DUE UP:

• Holy Cross concludes their three game series with Lehigh on Easter Sunday.
• First pitch is slated for noon.

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