EASTON, Pa. – The Holy Cross softball team concluded the conference opening series at Lafayette on Mar. 23. An early lead by the Crusaders fell short with Lafayette taking the 7-5 win.

CRUSADERS 5, LEOPARDS 7 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Jordan Goedel, 3.1 innings pitched, four hits allowed, three runs, two earned, three strikeouts.
• Lafayette: Parker Rowden, 1.2 innings pitched, two hits allowed, five runs, five earned, one strikeout.

IN RELIEF:

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (L,2-9), 2.2 innings pitched, five hits allowed, four runs, three earned, four strikeouts.
• Lafayette: Makayla Lecky (W, 1-2), 5.1 innings pitched, five hits allowed, two strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-4, one home run, one grand slam, one run scored, four RBIs.
• Brooke Ventrelle: 1-for-3, one run scored, one RBI. 
• Katie Harrington: 2-for-4, one home run, one run scored, two RBIs.
• Caroline Hall: 2-for-4, one double, one RBI.
• Jocelyn O'Keefe: 1-for-1, one triple, one run scored, one RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross got on the board first in the top of the second innings starting with junior Brooke Ventrelle hitting an RBI single to score teammate Maya Gallagher and load the bases. Junior captain Ali Sniegocki stepped up to the plate and crushed a grand slam over the right field wall to clear the bases for the 5-0 lead.
• The Leopards scored in the bottom of the third on a fielding error for the 5-1 score.
• Lafayette had a strong fourth inning scoring three runs on an Olivia Catalina RBI single to right center, Jocelyn O'Keeffe taking home with Catalina pulling attention away trying to steal second, and Caroline Hall hitting an RBI double to left center for the 5-4 result.
• The Leopards tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with O'Keeffe hitting an RBI single to right center.
• Lafayette took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer hit by Katie Harrington. Holy Cross's comeback attempt fell short with the Leopards running away with the 7-5 win.

UP NEXT: 

• The Crusaders return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 26 for a non-conference doubleheader with Stonehill at Gartland Field in North Easton, Mass. 
• First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. 

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