NORFOLK, Va. – The Holy Cross softball team split the first day of the Spartan Round Up in Norfolk, Va. The Crusaders earned a 6-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in game one before falling to host Norfolk State in game two by a final score of 5-3.

Senior pitcher Sophia Roncone threw her second-straight complete game in game one, striking out five batters, and allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings. Roncone surpassed 30 career complete games in her previous start at Maryland Eastern Shore.

GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 6, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 0 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (W, 2-2), 7.0 inning pitched, two hits allowed, no runs, five strikeouts, three walks
• FDU: Katie Simonka (L, 0-3), 6.1 innings pitched, 11 hits allowed, six runs (four earned), five strikeouts, two HBP

IN RELIEF:

• FDU: Jamie Sencion, 0.2 innings pitched, no hits allowed, no runs

AT THE PLATE:

• Silje Emery: 2-for-4, run
• Ali Sniegocki: 2-for-4, double, RBI, stolen base
• Emma Horrocks: 2-for-3, run
• Bella Nugent: 1-for-3, RBI, stolen base
• Kate Trudgen: 1-for-4
• Jenna Alesandrelli: 1-for-1, double, RBI
• Caroline Higgins: 1-for-3, double, RBI, run
• Kendall Grady: 1-for-2, RBI, run, stolen base

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Senior center fielder Ali Sniegocki got the Crusaders on the board in the top of the first, hitting an RBI-double that scored sophomore left fielder Kate Trudgen, making it 1-0.
• Holy Cross extended its lead in the top of the second as freshman catcher, Emma Horrocks, scored on an RBI single by freshman shortstop, Kendall Grady. Grady was later caught stealing, but the throw down allowed junior second baseman Caroline Higgins to score, making it 3-0.
• Senior Jenna Alesandrelli came through with a pinch-hit RBI-double in the top of the 6th inning to increase the Crusaders' lead to 4-0.
• Holy Cross extended its lead to 6-0 in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of an FDU error and an RBI single by freshman first baseman Bella Nugent.
• Roncone closed out the shutout in the bottom of the seventh and preserved a 6-0 victory.

GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 3, NORFOLK STATE 5 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Bridget Mulkeen (L, 4-3), 6.0 innings pitched, 10 hits allowed, five runs (five earned), five strikeouts, three walks
• Norfolk State: Maddy Morris (W, 4-2), 4.2 innings pitched, three hits allowed, three runs (two earned),three strikeouts, three walks

IN RELIEF: 

• Norfolk State: Jaiden Henderson (S, 1), 2.1 innings pitched, one hit allowed, no runs, three strikeouts, three walks

AT THE PLATE:

• Kendall Grady: 2-for-3, two RBI
• Emma Pietrzak: 1-for-2, double, run
• Emily McCandles: 1-for-3 
• Maddy Morris: 1-for-2, home-run, two walks, three RBI, run

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After two scoreless innings, Norfolk State's Maddy Morris belted a three-run home-run to right field, putting the Spartans ahead 3-0.
• The Crusaders tied the game up in the top of the fifth thanks to a two-RBI single by Grady and sophomore third baseman, Emily Balducci scoring on a passed ball.
• The Spartans answered in the bottom of the fifth with two additional runs which put them ahead for good.

UP NEXT: 

• The Crusaders are back in action tomorrow, Mar. 7, for day two of the Spartan Round Up and will take on North Dakota and Norfolk State.
• First pitch against North Dakota is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Norfolk State at 4:00 p.m.

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