BALTIMORE, Md. – The Holy Cross softball team faced Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) and Cornell in day two of the UMBC Tournament on Saturday, Mar. 8. The Crusaders dropped both games on the day with a 9-2 loss to FDU and a close 4-3 loss to Cornell in nine innings.
GAME ONE: CRUSADERS 2, KNIGHTS 9 (FINAL)
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:
- Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (L, 2-4), 3.2 innings pitched, six hits allowed, five runs, four earned, two strikeouts.
- FDU: Julia Swan (W, 2-4), 7.0 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, two runs, two earned, five strikeouts.
IN RELIEF:
- Holy Cross: Maya Gallagher, 1.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, four runs, two earned, one strikeout.
- Holy Cross: Avery Toddings, 0.2 innings pitched.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Ali Sniegocki: 3-for-4, one double.
- Anna Brait: 1-for-3, one run scored.
- Madison Rishel: 2-for-3, one double, two runs scored, three RBIs.
- Brianna Holguin: 3-for-3, two runs scored, two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the bottom of the first, Mikayla Conklin attempted to steal second and got caught in a rundown. On the play, Madison Rishel ran in a run for the 1-0 lead.
- In the top of the fourth, senior captain Callie Thibault drove in junior Anna Brait on an RBI ground out to tie the game 1-1. The Crusaders took the lead with junior Brooke Ventrelle reaching first on a fielder's choice RBI to score sophomore Emma Pietrzak. The Knights reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning with Brianna Holguin hitting a two RBI single up the middle and Rishel smacking a two RBI double to left field for the 5-2 result.
- FDU furthered their lead in the bottom of the sixth on three RBI walks and a fielder choice RBI to take the 9-2 win over Holy Cross.
GAME TWO: CRUSADERS 3, THE BIG RED 4 (FINAL)
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:
- Holy Cross: Jordan Goedel (L, 1-3), 8.1 innings pitched, four hits allowed, four runs, one earned, four strikeouts.
- Cornell: Mila Fiordalisi (W, 3-2), 9.0 innings pitched, six hits allowed, three runs, none earned, six strikeouts.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Ali Sniegocki: 3-for-5, one stolen base.
- Ava Gambichler: 1-for-4, one run, one RBI.
- Maddie Ullensvang: 2-for-3, one RBI, one stolen base.
- Emma Antich: 1-for-4, one run scored.
- Addison Pressley: 0-for-2, two runs scored, one stolen base.
- Emma Harshberger: 1-for-4, one double, one RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the bottom of the first, Lauren Holt reached on a fielder's choice RBI with Addison Pressley scoring on the play for the 1-0 lead.
- Holy Cross tied the game 1-1 with Brait reaching on a throwing error by the pitcher and sophomore Ava Gambichler crossing home on the play.
- After seven innings with an even score, the game was forced into extra innings. With freshman Silje Emery stepping in as a pinch runner placed on second to start off the eighth, she took third on a wild pitch to get into scoring position. Pietrzak then hit a sacrifice fly RBI to score Emery and take the lead for the Crusaders. Emma Harshberger tied the game again in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double into left center.
- In the top of the ninth, sophomore Caroline Higgins hit a sacrifice bunt to move junior Morgan Kane into scoring position. Gambichler hit a ground out RBI to score Kane for the 3-2 result. In the bottom of the innings, Maddie Ullensvang hit an RBI single down the right line to drive in the equalizing run. Emma Antich walked the game off with an RBI single up the middle for The Big Red 4-3 win over Holy Cross.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders return to action for the final game of the UMBC Tournament on Sunday, Mar. 9 at The Diamond at UMBC in Baltimore, Md.
- First pitch against Fairleigh Dickinson is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
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