WORCESTER, Mass. –  The Holy Cross softball team split Sunday's doubleheader with Colgate to close out the weekend series at Freshman Field. The Raiders claimed a 14-0 run-rule victory in game one, but the Crusaders came away with a 5-4 win in the series finale. 

Senior pitcher Sophia Roncone went the distance for the third time this season in game two, striking out five batters over seven innings while allowing four runs on eight hits.

Freshman catcher Emily McCandless went deep for the third time this season, hitting a towering two-run home run to right-center in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Senior outfielder Ali Sniegocki drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth, lacing a line-drive down the right-field line to score freshman Olivia Pignatello to make it 5-4.

GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 0, COLGATE 14 (FINAL/5)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Avery Toddings (L, 2-7), 3.2 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, nine runs (nine earned), three walks
• Colgate: Kelcie McGraw (W, 8-6), 5.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, no runs, four strikeouts

IN RELIEF: 

• Holy Cross: Maya Gallagher, 0.1 innings pitched, three hits allowed, five runs (four earned)
• Bridget Mulkeen, 1.0 inning pitched, one hit allowed, no runs, walk

AT THE PLATE:

• Bella Nugent: 1-for-2, double
• Anna Brait: 1-for-2
• Silje Emery: 1-for-2
• Morgan Kane: 1-for-2
• Nora Megenity: 3-for-4, home run, four RBI, three runs

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Colgate jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Lily Haluska in the top of the second inning.
• Nora Megenity hit a two-run home run in the top of the third to put Colgate ahead 3-0.
• The Raiders scored 11 runs across the fourth and fifth innings to put the game away.

GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 5, COLGATE 4 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (W, 3-6, S, 2), 7.0 innings pitched, eight hits allowed, four runs (four earned), five strikeouts, three walks
• Colgate: Maya Servedio, 3.1 innings pitched, three hits allowed, four runs (four earned), four strikeouts, two walks

IN RELIEF: 

• Alexa Acker (L, 5-8), 2.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, run (earned), five strikeouts, wild pitch

AT THE PLATE:

• Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-3, RBI
• Anna Brait: 1-for-3, double, run
• Bella Nugent: 1-for-2, double, walk, RBI, run
• Emily McCandless: 1-for-3, home run, two RBI, run
• Izzy Ervin Agudelo: 1-for-3, home run, two RBI, run

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Senior Anna Brait and freshman Bella Nugent traded places with back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the second inning, giving the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
• Colgate's Marina Tavera hit an RBI-single to center field in the top of the third inning, tying the game at 1–1.
• The Raiders took a 2-1 lead after Lily Haluska scored Analisa Raffaelli on a sac fly.
• Senior Morgan Kane drew a throw down on a stolen base attempt allowing Pignatello to score from third, tying the game at 2-2.
• Izzy Ervin-Agudelo hit a two-run home run for Colgate in the top of the fourth, jumping ahead 4-2.
• The Crusaders responded in the bottom of the fourth as McCandless launched a two-run blast to right-center field, evening the score at 4-4 and chased Colgate starter Maya Servedio from the game.
• Sniegocki scored Pignatello on an RBI-single down the right field line giving Holy Cross a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
• Roncone held the Raiders scoreless the rest of the way to earn the 5-4 victory.

UP NEXT: 

• The Crusaders will host Stonehill for a doubleheader on Tuesday, Mar 31. First pitch for game one is set for 2:00 p.m.

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