MISSOLUA, Mont. – The Holy Cross softball team split the first day of the Montana Softball Classic as both games went into extra innings. The Crusaders earned a 6-5 victory in eight innings during game one and fell by an 8-7 score in eight innings in game two.

The split sends the Crusaders to 3-7 on the year while the Grizzlies move to 6-14.

Senior Megan Yurchick, senior Jessica Mott and sophomore Ali Sniegocki swung hot bats for the Crusaders.

Yurchick combined to go 5-for-7 (.714) in both games with a double and two RBI. Yurchick is currently leading the Crusaders in batting average (.463) which ranks fifth in the Patriot League.

Mott combined to go 4-for-8 (.500) with a pair of doubles, three RBI, four runs scored a two walks. Mott needs eight more doubles to become the program's all-time leader.

Sniegocki was 5-for-9 (.555) in the twinbill with her second home run of the season, a double, three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Her RBI single in the top of the eighth during game one was the game-winning hit.
 
GAME ONE: CRUSADERS 6, GRIZZLIES 5 (FINAL – 8 INN.)
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Sophomore Sophia Roncone: ND, 3.1 innings pitched, six hits allowed, three earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts.
• Rylee Rehbein: ND, 5.1 innings pitched, nine hits allowed, two earned runs, three walks, three strikeouts.    

IN RELIEF:

• Freshman Maya Gallagher: 1.2 innings pitched two hits allowed, one run – zero earned runs, two walks, strikeout.
• Megan Yurchick: W, (2-3), 3.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed three strikeouts.
• Emmalyn Brinka: L, (1-8), 2.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, one run – zero earned runs one walk, two strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Ali Sniegocki: 3-for-5, RBI, run scored, stolen base.
• Jessica Mott: 2-for-4, two RBI, two runs scored, walk.
• Megan Yurchick: 2-for-4.
• Freshman Emma Pietrzak: 1-for-3, RBI, run scored, walk.
• Junior Callie Thibault: 1-for-2, run, two walks.
• Riley Peschek: 3-for-5, RBI, run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A pair of two out hits for Montana including an RBI triple to center gave them their first lead 1-0 in the bottom of the first.
• Holy Cross loaded the bases in the top of the second but an unlucky double play lined on a rope to third base thwarted the Crusader scoring threat.
• In the third an error leveled the game and Pietrzak singled down the right field line to push the Crusaders ahead 2-1 with one out. With the bases loaded, Mott blooped a single down the right field line to plate two runs for the 4-1 edge.
• A three run bottom of the fourth tied the game for the Grizzlies.
• Holy Cross jumped back in the lead via a throwing error in the top of the fifth.
• Montana again tied the game 5-5 with a single in the bottom of the sixth.
• In extras Mott was placed on second base, was sacrificed to third then Sniegocki tallied her third hit of the game, an opposite field RBI single to right for the lead.
• Yurchick was able to strand the placed runner at third base getting a strikeout swinging to wrap up the win.

 
GAME TWO: GRIZZLIES 8, CRUSADERS 7 (FINAL – 8 INN.):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Megan Yurchick: ND, 2.1 innings pitched, five hits allowed, four earned runs.
• Emmalyn Brinka: ND, 4.1 innings pitched, nine hits allowed, five earned runs, one strikeout.  

IN RELIEF:

• Sophia Roncone: 2.2 innings pitched, four hits allowed, unearned run, walk, five strikeouts.
• Freshman Avery Toddings: 1.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two earned runs, strikeout.
• Maya Gallagher: L, (0-1), 1.2 innings pitched, hit allowed, unearned run, strikeout.
• Grace Haegele: W, (3-4), 3.2 innings pitched, five hits allowed, two warned runs, walk, three strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Megan Yurchick: 3-for-4, double, two RBI, sacrifice.
• Senior Claire McCann: 3-for-4.
• Jessica Mott: 2-for-4, two doubles, RBI, two runs scored, walk.
• Ali Sniegocki: 2-for-4, home run, double, two RBI, run scored.
• Riley Peschek: 3-for-4, two doubles, triple, two RBI.
• Jocelyn Eisen: 2-for-4, two doubles, three RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Three runs in the top of the first for the Grizziles put them in the lead at 3-0.
• With two outs in the top of the second. Pietrzak doubled and Yurchick pulled a single into left for the Crusaders first run.
• In the fourth, a Yurchick full count double brought the deficit to one, 4-3.
• Trailing by two in the top of the fifth, Sniegocki belted a two-run shot over everything in left field to tie the game 5-5.
• During the sixth, Yurchick tallied her third hit of the game and was pinch run for by freshman Caroline Higgins. Higgins came around to score on Mott's double to the left center field gap. Freshman Ava Gambichler tacked on an important insurance tally for the 7-5 Holy Cross lead.
• Three straight hits in the bottom of the seventh tied the game for the Grizzlies. Holy Cross got the next three outs to head into extras for the second time today.
• In the bottom of the eighth, the hosts used a pair of sacrifices to clinch the victory.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders return to action tomorrow to take on NIU (4-10) at noon EST and Montana at 5 p.m. EST.

 
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