NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Holy Cross softball team traveled to Merrimack to play a midweek non-conference doubleheader on Apr. 2. The Crusaders split the series dropping game one 6-1 and taking game two 5-4 against Merrimack.
GAME ONE: CRUSADERS 1, WARRIORS 6 (FINAL)
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:
- Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (L, 3-10), 6.0 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, six runs, three earned, six strikeouts.
- Merrimack: Anna Gedacht (W, 4-7), 7.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, one run, one earned, one strikeout.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Anna Brait: 1-for-3, one RBI.
- Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-3, one run scored.
- Madeline Arvai: 2-for-3, one home run, one double, one run scored, four RBIs.
- Gabby Kaduson: 1-for-3, one run scored, one RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Merrimack's Madeline Arvai hit a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the first for the 2-0 lead.
- Arvai doubled the Warrior's lead in the bottom of the third with a two-RBI double to right field.
- In the top of the fourth, junior Anna Brait hit an RBI single up the middle to score junior captain Ali Sniegocki for the 4-1 result.
- The Warriors extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth scoring two more runs and eventually took the 6-1 win over Holy Cross.
GAME TWO: CRUSADERS 5, WARRIORS 4 (FINAL)
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:
- Holy Cross: Avery Toddings (W, 1-1), 7.0 innings pitched, nine hits allowed, four runs, three earned, five strikeouts.
- Merrimack: Sarah Shurtleff, 4.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, one run, one earned, three strikeouts.
IN RELIEF:
- Merrimack: Emma Prahin (L, 3-2), 2.1 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, four runs, four earned.
- Merrimack: Brandi Neil, 0.2 innings pitched.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-5, one RBI.
- Maya Gallagher: 2-for-3, one RBI.
- Silje Emery: 2-for-3, two RBIs.
- Ellen Hubbard: 3-for-4, one double, one run scored, one RBI.
- Gabby Kaduson: 3-for-4, one run scored, one RBI.
- Madison Metcalf: 1-for-2, one triple, one RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Freshman Silje Emery hit a sacrifice fly RBI to score teammate Jordan Goedel and take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
- The Warriors tied the game with a Madison Metcalf RBI triple to center field in the bottom of the fourth.
- Merrimack stole the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a Thiana Brito RBI single to center field for the 2-1 result.
- The Crusaders battled back with sophomore Ava Gambichler knocking an RBI single into right field to score teammate Morgan Kane in the top of the sixth. Sniegocki drove home Gambichler on an RBI double to left field for the 3-2 advantage.
- Holy Cross furthered their lead in the top of the seventh with sophomore Maya Gallagher smacking an RBI single into center field to score teammate Caroline Higgins. Emery hit an RBI single into right field to drive in senior captain Jena Whipple for the 5-2 result. Merrimack attempted to come back scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning but the Crusaders held on for the 5-4 victory.
- Sophomore pitcher Avery Toddings pitched the full game earning her first career win for Holy Cross.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders return to action on Saturday, Apr. 5 for a Patriot League doubleheader with Boston University at Freshman Field in Worcester, Mass.
- First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
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