LEWISBURG, Pa – Holy Cross softball split Saturday's doubleheader with Bucknell to open Patriot League play. The Bison claimed a 2-1 victory in game one, but the Crusaders came away with a 4-1 win in game two. 

Seniors Jenna Alesandrelli and Emma Pietrzak each hit home runs in game two, highlighting Holy Cross' offense. The Crusaders pick up their first Patriot League win of the season and snap an 11 game losing streak against the Bison.

GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 1, BUCKNELL 2 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (L, 2-4), 6.0 inning pitched, four hits allowed, two runs (two earned), nine strikeouts, five walks
• Bucknell: Avery Powers (W, 3-9), 5.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, run (one earned), eight strikeouts, two walks

IN RELIEF: 

• Bucknell: Nina Barrouk (S,1), 2.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, no runs, strikeout, walk

AT THE PLATE:

• Ali Sniegocki: 2-for-3, home run, RBI, run
• Anna Brait: 1-for-3, double
• Sarah Zimmerman: 1-for-3, double, RBI, run

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After three scoreless innings, senior Ali Sniegocki put Holy Cross on the board with a solo home run in the top of the first.
• Bucknell's Sarah Zimmerman tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double that scored Haley Speicher.
• The Bison would take the lead on the next at-bat as Barbara Jo Coppola brought Zimmerman around on a single down the left field line to make it 2-1. 
• Bucknell retired Holy Cross in the top of the seventh to claim the 2-1 win.

GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 4, BUCKNELL 1 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Bridget Mulkeen (W, 2-3), 4.2 innings pitched, four hits allowed, run (one earned), five strikeouts, seven walks
• Bucknell: Sarah Zimmerman (L, 0-9), 6.2 innings pitched, nine hits allowed, four runs (four earned), two strikeouts, three walks

IN RELIEF: 

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (S, 1), 2.1 innings pitched, one hits allowed, no runs, strikeout, two walks
• Bucknell: Nina Barrouk, 0.1 innings pitched, no hits, no runs

AT THE PLATE:

• Silje Emery: 1-for-4
• Kate Trudgen: 1-for-4, RBI
• Anna Brait: 1-for-4, RBI
• Emily McCandless: 1-for-2, walk
• Jenna Alesandrelli: 1-for-3, home run, RBI, run
• Emma Pietrzak: 2-for-3 home run, RBI, run
• Kendall Grady: 1-for-2, run, walk

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Senior Anna Brait got the Crusaders on the board in the top of the first with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.
• Alesandrelli doubled Holy Cross' lead with a solo home run to left in the top of the fourth.
• Bucknell got a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Shea Malone was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and brought in Haley Speicher, making it 2-1.
• Pietrzak extended the Crusaders' lead to 3-1 thanks to a solo shot to left in the top of the seventh.
• Sophomore Kate Trudgen increased the lead to 4-1 with an RBI single to right field, scoring freshman Kendall Grady.

UP NEXT: 

• The Crusaders close out the weekend series with Bucknell on Sunday, Mar. 22 with a rubber game currently scheduled 12:00 p.m.

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