LOWELL, Mass. –  The Holy Cross softball team fell to UMass Lowell in a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday, Apr. 14. The River Hawks claimed a 9-1 five-inning run-rule victory in game one and had a late offensive surge in game two, winning 10-5.

GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 1, UMASS LOWELL 9 (FINAL/5)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Avery Toddings (L, 1-6), 2.2 innings pitched, eight hits allowed, six runs (two earned), strikeout, walk
• UMass Lowell: Olivia DeCitise (W, 12-8), 5.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, run (earned), eight strikeouts, two walks

IN RELIEF: 

• Holy Cross: Bella Nugent, 1.1 innings pitched, three hits allowed, three runs (three earned), three walks

AT THE PLATE:

• Emma Pietrzak: 1-for-2, home run, RBI, run
• Caroline Higgins: 1-for-2
• Kendall Grady: 1-for-2
• Madi Wade: 1-for-1, home run, two walks, two RBI, run

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The River Hawks took an early lead in game one, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
• Junior Emma Pietrzak hit a solo home run down the left-field line in the top of the second inning to make it 5-1, UMass Lowell.
• Katelyn Fitzgerald scored for UML in the bottom of the third to make it 6-1
• Fitzgerald drove in Thyanais Santiago in the bottom of the fourth to extend the River Hawks lead to 7-1.
• UMass Lowell drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure a 9-1 run-rule victory.

GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 5, UMASS LOWELL 10 (FINAL)

STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Holy Cross: Bridget Mulkeen, 3.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, four runs (four earned), strikeout, six walks, HBP
• UMass Lowell: Giana LaCedra, 2.2 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, three runs (two earned), three strikeouts, three walks, HBP, wild pitch

IN RELIEF: 

• Holy Cross: Sophia Roncone (L, 3-11), six hits allowed, six runs (two earned), two strikeouts, five walks
• UMass Lowell: Ella Van Alstyne, 1.1 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two runs (two earned), strikeout, two walks
• Olivia DeCitise (W, 13-8), 3.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, no runs, seven strikeouts, walk

AT THE PLATE:

• Emily Balducci: 2-for-3, walk, two runs
• Ali Sniegocki: 2-for-4, home run, two RBI, two runs
• Emma Pietrzak: 1-for-3: double, walk, RBI, run
• Mackenzie Crerand: 1-for-3, walk
• Anna Brait: 1-for-4
• Jenna Alesandrelli: 0-for-2, two walks, run
• Brooke Ventrelle: 1-for-2, walk, HBP
• Kendall Grady: 2-for-4, RBI

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Pietrzak drove in sophomore Emily Balducci on an RBI-double to right field in the top of the first, giving the Crusaders an early 1-0 lead.
• UMass Lowell answered with three runs in the home half of the inning to make it 3-1.
• Freshman Kendall Grady tied the game at 3-3 with a two-RBI single up the middle in the top of the third.
• UML's Alaina Santoli scored on a sac bunt by Fitzgerald in the bottom of the third to make it 4-3.
• Senior Ali Sniegocki gave Holy Cross its first lead of the afternoon, launching a two-run home run to right field in the top of the fourth to go ahead 5-4.
• The River Hawks evened it up at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-double by Santiago.
• Emily Baumes put UMass Lowell back ahead in the bottom of the fifth inning with an RBI-double to make it 6-5.
• Avery Spinello-Branch cleared the bases in the bottom of the sixth, giving the River Hawks a 9-5 lead.
• Spinello-Branch came around to score later in the inning to make it 10-5 UML.

UP NEXT: 

• The Crusaders return home on Thursday, Apr. 16, face Merrimack in a doubleheader. 
• First pitch for game one is set for 2:00 p.m., with game two to follow at 4:00 p.m.

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