PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Holy Cross softball program split both contests of a Saturday doubleheader dropping a contest to Maryland-Eastern Shore 5-4 before shutting out the hosts 6-0 in game two Saturday afternoon.

The 1-1 day sends the Crusaders to 5-11 while the Hawks mark moves to 3-10.

Junior Megan Yurchick threw her third complete game shutout this season and second of the week in the game two victory.
 
GAME ONE: HAWKS 5, CRUSADERS 4 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• K Smitchko: ND, 3.0 innings, three earned runs, three walks, eight hits allowed.
• Freshman Sophia Roncone: L, (1-5), 2.1 innings pitched, five earned runs, seven hits allowed two walks.

IN RELIEF:

• Ameenah Ballenger: W, (2-4), 4.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two walks, two strikeouts.
• Senior Audrey Gusel: 3.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, one strikeout.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Ameenah Ballenger: 2-for-3, run scored, RBI, stolen base.
• Ryan Merriweth: 1-for-3, three RBI.
• Junior Jessica Mott: 2-for-4, double, triple, run scored, two RBI.
• Senior Peyton Morehouse: 2-for-4, RBI.
• Senior Kari Jacobson: 2-for-2, run scored, walk.
• Senior Bailey Bates: 0-for-1, three walks.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross held a 3-0 lead early as Mott scored on a strikeout swinging and she doubled home two runs in the top of the second.
• UMES came within one via an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second.
• Morehouse added onto the Crusader edge at 4-1 singling to center field in the third.
• During the home half of the third, the Hawks pulled ahead with two RBI singles including a two-RBI knock from Merriweth for the 5-4 advantage.

 
GAME TWO: CRUSADERS 6, HAWKS 0 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Senior Megan Yurchick: W, (4-6), complete game, shutout, six strikeouts, three hits allowed, walk.
• A. Ballenger: L, (2-5), 2.1 innings pitched, four earned runs, six hits allowed, two walks.

IN RELIEF:

• K. Smitchko: 4.2 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, two walks, two earned runs.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Megan Yurchick: 3-for-4, two RBI.
• Freshman Ali Sniegocki: 3-for-4, run scored.
• Freshman Anna Brait: 2-for-4, double, two RBI, run scored.
• Peyton Morehouse: 1-for-3, triple, RBI, walk.
• Senior Olivia Eckelman: 1-for-3, walk, double.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Yurchick helped her own cause ripping an RBI single.
• Holy Cross added a couple of insurance tallies in the top of the fourth. Brait belted an RBI double while Sniegocki and Yurchick singled to bring home runs to increase the edge to 4-0.
• Brait hit another RBI single to expand the lead to 5-0 in the top of the sixth.
• Morehouse tripled in the seventh for the 6-0 Crusader lead.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross wraps up spring break on Sunday, March 12 against Maryland-Eastern Shore.
• First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.

 
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