SAILSBURY, Md. – The Holy Cross softball team swept through nonconference opponent Maryland-Eastern Shore 6-4 and 5-1 Monday afternoon during the third day of their spring break trip.

The wins push the Crusaders to 2-6 in the early stages of the season while the Hawks slide to 4-7 overall.

Sophomore hurler Sophia Roncone notched the first double-digit strikeout showing of 2024 and the third of her career with 12 in 5.2 innings of relief in game one. In the later innings, senior Jessica Mott lined a two RBI double to give the Crusaders the lead for good.

In game two, junior Callie Thibault recorded her first career three hit performance going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and an RBI. Senior Megan Yurchick tossed her 22nd career complete game as well.

GAME ONE: CRUSADERS 6, HAWKS 4 (FINAL)
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Kylee Lehman: L, (2-4), complete game, nine hits allowed, six earned runs, three walks, two strikeouts.   
• Freshman Maya Gallagher: ND, 1.1 innings pitched, four hits allowed, three earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts.

IN RELIEF:

• Sophomore Sophia Roncone: W, (1-3), 5.2 innings pitched, three hits allowed, 12 strikeouts, zero earned runs.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Freshman Emma Pietrzak: 2-for-3, double, triple, two RBI, run scored.
• Sophomore Anna Brait: 2-for-3, two runs scored.
• Megan Yurchick: 1-for-3, double, RBI, walk.
• Senior Jessica Mott: 1-for-4, double, two RBI, run scored.
• Nola Mountain: 2-for-3, RBI, two runs scored, stolen base.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• UMES loaded the bases in the bottom of the first and struck with one out singling up the middle to plate the game's first run. A sacrifice fly plated another run as the lead expanded to 2-0.
• With two away in the away half of the second, Pietrzak doubled to left field to plate Brait to cut into the lead at 2-1.
• The Hawks got a sacrifice bunt in the second to increase their lead to 3-1.
• Holy Cross tied the game in the top of the fourth when Yurchick plated Brait via a two-bagger to left center and Pietrzak tripled with two away making it 3-3.
• The hosts jumped back ahead in the fifth via a two out single through the left side.
• Trailing by two with one out in the sixth, Mott delivered a two RBI double to left center to push the Crusaders into the lead 5-4. Sniegocki followed beating out a single to the pitcher for an important insurance tally.

 
GAME TWO: CRUSADERS 5, HAWKS 1 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Megan Yurchick: W, (1-3), complete game, three hits allowed, earned run, walk, four strikeouts.
• Ameenah Ballenger: L, (2-3) complete game, nine hits allowed, four earned runs, two walks, seven strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Callie Thibault: 3-for-3, two doubles, triple, RBI, run scored.
• Sophomore Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-3, home run, two RBI, run scored, walk.
• Megan Yurchick: 2-for-4.
• Sophomore Jenna Alesandrelli: 1-for-1 pinch hit two RBI double.
• Ryan Merriwether: 1-for-3, triple, run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross scored first in the top of the second when Thibault smacked a two-out double for the first run of the contest.
• Sniegocki belted a two-run home run in the top of the third to push the Crusaders ahead 3-0.
• UMES threatened in the bottom of the third having runners at the corners and two outs. Holy Cross was able to pick off the runner at third base to end the inning.
• The Hawks led off the fifth with a triple and the run came around to score on a sacrifice for the 3-1 Crusader edge.
• Alesandrelli pinch hit in the top of the sixth and walloped a two RBI double down the left field line to extend the lead to 5-1.

 
DUE UP:

• Holy Cross heads west to Big Sky Country for the Montana Softball Classic on Thursday, March 7
• First pitch is set for 2 p.m. EST with the host Grizzlies.

 
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