FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Holy Cross softball team dropped a pair of contests to nonleague foe Sacred Heart Thursday falling 11-3 in game one and 8-0 in game two.

The setbacks were the 20th and 21st of the season for the Crusaders while the Pioneers picked up their 16th and 17th victories.
 
GAME ONE: PIONEERS 11, CRUSADERS 3 (FINAL – 5 INN.)
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Sam Kowalski: W, (10-8), complete game, eight hits allowed, three earned runs, walk four strikeouts
• Senior Megan Yurchick: L, (4-11), 2.0 innings pitched, six hits allowed, four earned runs, two walks.

IN RELIEF:

• Freshman Maya Gallagher: 2.0 innings pitched, five hits allowed, four earned runs.
• Freshman Avery Toddings: 0.1 innings pitched.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Junior Callie Thibault: 1-for-2, RBI.
• Sophomore Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-3, double, run scored.
• Cierra Bender: 2-for-4, double, three RBI.
• Nicole Henke: 2-for-3, double, three RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sacred Heart took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. A misplaced ball in the outfield resulted in a pair of unearned runs via back-to-back RBI singles.
• The Pioneers doubled their lead to 4-0 in the second getting a two-RBI double.
• In the top of the fourth, Gallagher singled up the middle to trim the deficit to 5-1.
• A four run top of the fifth put the hosts on the brink of a run rule victory.
• Holy Cross added two runs in the fifth via a hit by pitch and a wild pitch to trail 9-3.
• The hosts capped off the run rule win in the home half of the fifth.

 
GAME TWO: PIONEERS 8, CRUSADERS 0 (FINAL – 5 INN.)
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Emily Heath: W, (7-8), complete game, shutout, four hits allowed, three walks, five strikeouts.
• Sophia Roncone: L, (3-9), complete game, seven hits allowed, eight earned runs, five walks, four strikeouts.   

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Senior Jessica Mott: 2-for-3.
• Sophomore Anna Brait: 1-for-1, walk.
• Sam Kowalski: 1-for-2, home run, three RBI, walk, two runs.
• Carly Koltko: 2-for-2, double, two RBI, two runs scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A three run homer in the top of the first gave the Pioneers the early 3-0 lead.
• Sacred Heart put up a three spot in the third including an RBI double to lead 6-0.
• Another double in the bottom of the fourth expanded the edge to 8-0 in favor of the Pioneers.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross heads to #21/#24 Boston University this weekend for a three game set with the Terriers.
• First pitch on Saturday, April 13 is set for noon.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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