SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Holy Cross softball team fell to Harvard and Wofford on Day 1 of the Sparkle City Invitational. The Crusaders dropped game one, 9-0, to the Crimson and later fell, 4-3, to the Terriers in the afternoon matchup.

Freshman first baseman Bella Nugent turned in an exceptional performance at the plate in game two, launching a pair of solo home runs against Wofford.

GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 0, HARVARD 9 (FINAL / 5 INNINGS)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Bridget Mulkeen, 1.0 inning pitched, two hits allowed, five runs (five earned), two strikeouts, three walks, HBP
• Harvard: Nicolette Hunter (W, 1-2), 5.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, no runs, 10 strikeouts, HBP

IN RELIEF:

• Holy Cross: Bella Nugent (L, 0-1), 1.0 inning pitched, four hits allowed, four runs (four earned), two strikeouts, four walks
• Maya Gallagher (L, 0-1), three hits allowed, zero runs, walk

AT THE PLATE:

• Anna Brait: 1-for-2
• Olivia Pignatello: 1-for-2
• Finley Payne: 2-for-2, one double, four RBI, HBP
• Audrey Szollosi: 1-for-2, two RBI, two walks

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Harvard got on the board early in the bottom of the first inning when Payne drove in two runs with a double to center field, giving the Crimson a 2-0 lead.
• Szollosi hit an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the second to drive in Davis, extending Harvard's lead to 3-0.
• The next batter, Sophie Sun, drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring in Hunter and extend the lead to 4-0.
• The Crimson tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 9-0.
• Harvard would hold Holy Cross scoreless to secure the run-rule victory in five innings.

GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 3, WOFFORD 4 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (L, 0-2), 6.1 innings pitched, 11 hits allowed, four runs (four earned), three strikeouts, three walks 
• Wofford: Natalya Salo (W, 2-1), 7.0 innings pitched, eight hits allowed, three runs, (two earned), nine strikeouts

AT THE PLATE:

• Bella Nugent: 2-for-3, two home runs, two walks, two RBI
• Silje Emery: 2-for-3, RBI
• Kate Trudgen: 2-for-4
• Anna Brait: 1-for-1
• Brianna Stanley: 1-for-3, home run, walk, two RBI
• Rivers Sampson: 2-for-3, double, walk, RBI
• Gracie Parker: 2-for-4, RBI 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After three scoreless innings, Nugent belted a homer to left to lead off the fourth and give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
• Later that inning, sophomore right fielder Silje Emery singled to center, scoring senior pinch runner Morgan Kane to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead.
• Wofford responded in the bottom of the fifth, plating three runs on a single by Sampson and a two-run home run by Stanley to take a 3-2 lead.
• Nugent would tie up the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth after hitting a solo home run to right field.
• Wofford rallied in the bottom of the seventh and walked it off on a Parker single through the right side to secure a 4-3 victory.

UP NEXT: 

• The Crusaders close out the Sparkle City Invitational with a matchup against Robert Morris on Sunday, Feb. 22.
• First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

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