PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Holy Cross softball team fell twice at the Rutgers Tournament on Sunday losing to Iona 9-7 in game one and host Rutgers 8-5 in game two.

The two defeats send the Crusaders to 5-14 on the year while the victories improve the Gaels (6-14-1) and the Scarlet Knights (23-10) records.

Junior Claire McCann swung a hot bat in the tournament going 4-for-7 (.571) with a home run, five RBI and a double. Classmate Jessica Mott was 4-for-8 (.500) with a home run, RBI, a double and two runs scored.
 
GAME ONE: GAELS 9, CRUSADERS 7 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Junior Megan Yurchick: L, (4-7), 3.1 innings pitched, five earned runs four hits allowed, four walks.
• Dani Beckham: ND, 2.1 innings pitched, five runs – two earned, five hits allowed, three strikeouts.

IN RELIEF:

• Kara Zazzaro: W, (4-7), 4.2 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two earned runs, 10 strikeouts, three walks.
• Freshman Sophia Roncone: 2.2 innings pitched, three earned runs, five hits allowed, three strikeouts.

 
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Jamie Sheeran: 2-for-4, home run, four RBI.
• Destiny Nardello: 2-for-2, double.
• Emma Capuano: 1-for-2, home run, RBI.
• Junior Claire McCann: 3-for-4, home run, five RBI, double.
• Junior Jessica Mott: 2-for-4, home run, RBI, double.
• Freshman Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-4, home run, RBI.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• With two outs in the top of the first, two errors and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for McCann. She promptly unloaded them by bashing a first pitch double to right center for the early 3-0 Crusader lead.
• Iona gained two runs back in the home half of the first. A fielding error plated the first run and then Sheeran singled to center for the second run of the frame.
• In the top of the second, Mott drove a 1-1 offering over the left center field fence for her first homer of the year.
• Sniegocki hit a lead off homer in the third for the 5-2 Crusader edge.
• The Gaels scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth to regain the advantage. A double to center tied the game at 5-5 and chased Yurchick from the game. With two away Sheeran belted a three run shot to push Iona ahead 8-5.
• McCann dropped the deficit to one, 8-7 in the top of the fifth as she hit her first homer of the season, a two run shot giving her five RBI on the afternoon.
• Iona tacked on an important insurance tally via a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth.
• A two-out double by Mott combined with two walks loaded the bases for the Crusaders in the top of the sixth, but they were stranded following an inning ending strikeout.

 
GAME TWO: SCARLET KNIGHTS 8, CRUSADERS 5 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Ryann Orange: ND, 3.0 innings pitched, three runs – two earned, three walks, three strikeouts.
• Sophia Roncone L, (1-6), 3.0 innings pitched, eight earned runs, two walks.

IN RELIEF:

• Jaden Vickers: W, (6-4), 4.0 innings pitched, two earned runs, five strikeouts, three hits allowed.   
• Senior Peyton Morehouse: 3.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, four walks.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Ryann Orange: 3-for-3, double.
• Katie Wingert: 1-for-3, two RBI, double, walk.
• Morgan Smith: 1-for-1, double, RBI, run scored, two walks.
• Jessica Mott: 2-for-4, run scored.
• Senior Bailey Bates: 1-for-3, home run, two RBI.
• Freshman Anna Brait: 1-for-4, home run, two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Rutgers took a 1-0 lead getting a sacrifice fly in the home half of the first.
• Holy Cross leveled the margin in the top of the second as Sniegocki drew a walk and with two outs stole home.
• Rutgers regained the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the second.
• With two away in the top of the third, Brait delivered with a two-run homer to regain the edge towards the Crusader side at 3-2.
• The Scarlet Knights jumped back ahead 5-3 as Kobie Hura homered to tie the game and Wingert doubled to left with one out.
• Host Rutgers tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to lead 8-3.
• With two away in the top of the seventh, Bates bopped a two run homer to make it a three run game, 8-5.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders will play two games at Quinnipiac on Tuesday, March 21.
• First pitch is slated for 2 and 4 p.m.

 
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