WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross softball team fell twice to Patriot League opponent Bucknell dropping a 5-2 decision in game one and a 7-6 contest in game two Saturday afternoon at Freshman Field.

The defeats send the Crusaders to 14-31-1, 2-12 PL while the Bison improve to 12-26, 4-10 PL.

Freshman Anna Brait and junior Claire McCann have extended their reached base streak to eight games. Both student-athletes reached base in both contests. Brait matches her longest reached base streak while McCann has set a new high this season bettering her previous best of seven.

Between games, the 1998 Holy Cross softball team was honored for their 25th anniversary of winning the Patriot League Championship.
 
GAME ONE: BISON 5, CRUSADERS 2 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Freshman Sophia Roncone: L, (6-15), 3.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, three earned runs, walk, two strikeouts.
• Olivia Marinelli: ND, 2.1 innings pitched, four hits allowed, two earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts.

IN RELIEF:

• Kaiya Burton: W, (2-6): 4.2 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero runs allowed, three walks, three strikeouts.
• Senior Peyton Morehouse: 1.1 innings pitched, hit allowed, earned run, walk.
• Junior Megan Yurchick: 2.2 innings pitched, three hits allowed, earned run, two walks, strikeout.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Zoie Smith:  3-for-4, two RBI, stolen base, run scored.
• Savannah Jones: 2-for-4, two RBI.
• Makenzie Hilling: 1-for-2, double, stolen base, two walks, run scored.
• Junior Claire McCann: 2-for-4, RBI.
• Freshman Anna Brait: 1-for-3, home run, RBI, walk.
• Senior Kari Jacobson: 1-for-4, run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Brait demolished a hitter's count 3-1 offering the opposite way for the solo homer to push the Crusader ahead 1-0 in the top of the first.
• Bucknell took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third when Smith hit a RBI single to left field. Another RBI single dropped down the right field line by Jones upped the score to 3-1, but Jacobson gunned the runner out at second base to end the frame.
• McCann pulled the Crusaders within one singling up the middle in the bottom of the third to make it 3-2.
• Bucknell added insurance in the fifth and seventh innings.

 
GAME TWO: BISON 7, CRUSADERS 6 (FINAL):
 
STARTING IN THE CIRCLE:

• Junior Megan Yurchick ND, 3.0 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, four earned runs, two strikeouts.
• Savannah Jones: ND, 2.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, five earned runs, three walks, strikeout.

IN RELIEF:

• Madison Roukey: W, (5-5), 3.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, earned run, strikeout.
• Sophia Roncone: L, (6-16), 1.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, three earned runs, three walks.
• Kaiya Burton: S (2), 2.0 innings pitched, hit allowed, two walks, two strikeouts.
• Peyton Morehouse: 3.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, strikeout.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Zoie Smith: 3-for-3, double, triple, walk, two runs scored, stolen base.
• Savannah Jones: 2-for-4, two runs scored, RBI.
• Chase Knapp: 2-for-3, double, triple, two runs scored, RBI, walk.
• Kailyn Lorberter: 2-for-4, three RBI, double.
• Junior Jessica Mott: 1-for-3, two runs scored, walk, double.
• Kari Jacobson: 2-for-3, two runs scored, RBI, walk, double.
• Claire McCann: 2-for-3, RBI.
• Freshman Ali Sniegocki: 1-for-4, double, three RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Bucknell scored two runs in the top of the first including a triple to right field which gave them a 2-0 lead.
• The first four hitters reached base for the Crusaders in the home half of the first. Jacobson smoked an RBI double to deep center to score Mott who reached via walk. After Brait reached on an error, McCann flared an RBI single into left center to tie the game 2-2.
• In the third, Holy Cross loaded the bases and Bucknell made a pitching change. Sniegocki immediately unloaded the bases doubling into the right center field gap on the first pitch she saw for the 5-2 Crusader edge.
• Bucknell got two runs back in the next half inning to pull within one at 5-4.
• The Crusaders got an important insurance run across when they scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to lead 6-4.
• In the next half inning Bucknell took the lead. Lorberter doubled down the left field line to tie the game at 6-6 and a sacrifice fly scored the eventual winning run.

 
DUE UP:

• The Crusaders wrap up the three game series on Monday, April 24 against Bucknell.

 
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