SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Holy Cross softball team fell to Harvard and USC Upstate in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 20 to open the 2026 season. The Crusaders dropped game one, 8-3, to the Crimson, and ended the day with an 11-3 loss in game two to the Spartans.

GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 3, HARVARD 8 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (L, 0-1), 4.0 innings pitched, 12 hits allowed, six runs (six earned), two strikeouts, one walk
• Harvard: Riley Flynn (W, 1-1), 4.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, three runs (two earned), three strikeouts, one walk

IN RELIEF:

• Holy Cross: Bridget Mulkeen, 2.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two runs (two earned), one strikeout, two walks, two HBP
• Harvard: Ryan Grace (1 SV), no hits, no runs, one HBP

AT THE PLATE:

• Ava Gambichler: 2-for-3, double, two runs scored
• Kendall Grady: 1-for-2
• Emily Balducci: 1-for-4, two RBI, stolen base
• Kate Trudgen: one walk
• Sophie Sun: 2-for-3, home run, four RBI
• Quinn Salazar-Stewart: 2-for-3, home run, three RBI, stolen base
• Payne Finley: 2-for-3, walk

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Harvard's offense was sparked by a five-run bottom of the first inning that featured home-runs by Sun and Salazar-Stewart. 
• Sophomore Emily Balducci got the Crusaders on board in the top of the third with a two-RBI single to left that scored junior Ava Gambichler and freshman Emma Horrocks, making it 5-2.
• Sun extended the Crimson lead with a sac fly that scored Sheila Forbes in the bottom of the third, making it 6-2.
• Sun drove in her fourth run of the afternoon with a ground out to second that scored Elena Weinseimer in the bottom of the fifth, 7-2.
• A pinch-hit, two-out double by Ayala in the fifth scored Payne, giving Harvard the 8-3 lead.

GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 3, USC UPSTATE 11 (FINAL / 5 INNINGS)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Avery Toddings (L, 0-1), 3.1 innings pitched, eight hits allowed, eight runs (six earned), one strikeout, three walks
• USC Upstate: Laila Landrum, 0.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, two runs (two earned), one walk, one HBP

IN RELIEF:

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone 1.0 inning pitched, three hits allowed, three runs (three earned), one strikeout, two walks, two HBP
• USC Upstate: Anna Dickson (W, 1-0), 4.1 innings pitched, one run (one earned), three strikeouts, two walks

AT THE PLATE:

• Bella Nugent: 2-for-2, double, home run, RBI
• Ali Sniegocki: home run, two RBI, run scored, walk
• Mackenzie Crerand: 1-for-2
• Silje Emery: 1-for-3
• Anna Brait: run scored, HBP
• Ella Christopher: 2-for-4, double, home run, two RBI, two runs scored
• Alyssa Davenport: 2-for-3, double, stolen base
• Abby Polk: 3-for-3, home run, five RBI, stolen base

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Back-to-back home-runs by senior Ali Sniegocki and freshman Bella Nugent in the top of the first inning got the Crusaders off to a strong start in game two, giving Holy Cross a 3-0 lead.
• The Spartans responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first by way of a Bernal-Mahagan RBI double that scored Jennings, making it 3-1.
• USC Upstate got another runner across in the second when Polk hit a two-out RBI single up the middle to drive in Davenport, 3-2.
• After a scoreless third inning, Upstate would score nine unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings to secure a run-rule victory.

UP NEXT: 

• The Crusaders are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 21 as they will compete in the Sparkle City Invitational, hosted by Wofford College. The first day of the tournament will see Holy Cross take on Harvard and Wofford in a doubleheader. The Crusaders will close out the weekend with Robert Morris on Sunday.
• First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

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