April 3, 2011
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
EASTON, Pa. - A shortened game and a 12-inning affair ended with the same result, as Holy cross took a pair of games from Lafayette softball on Sunday at Metzgar Fields. In the opener, Holy Cross pulled away with a six-run third inning en route to a 13-5 win. In the series finale, Holy Cross spoiled Lafayette starter Melissa Robinson's pitching gem, snapping a streak of eight scoreless innings with a score in the bottom of the 12th for a 3-2 final.
As the day started, Lafayette surrendered a pair of runs in the first inning for the third time in three games. The first two batters singled and then Lafayette starter Emily Noel walked the next two. A second run scored on an RBI groundout by No. 5 hitter Gwen Reimer.
Holy Cross (10-12, 4-0) added two more in the bottom of the second inning. Erin Fleming stole home on a throw down to second attempting to get another runner. Keeley Seniuk's RBI-single made it 4-0. Lafayette freshman Lauren Hasson replaced starting pitcher Emily Noel with one out in the inning.
It was the six-run third inning when the Crusaders batted around that ripped open the game. Alex Gustafson (double), Sam Fregenti (single), Kelliner Croushore (walk) and Nicole Ortiz (two-run single) drove in runs and another scored on an overthrow as Holy Cross led 10-0.
The Leopards mustered some offense in the top of the fourth. Lafayette loaded the bases with the first three batters. Carly Feiro plated the first run with a one-out groundball. Lauren Murphy's infield single made it 10-2. Kerry Griffin drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the third run before Jordan Parsons singled home two more with a single back through the box to cut the Holy Cross lead to 10-5.
Holy Cross earned the mercy-rule win in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs. Tiffany Medwid ended the game with a double to centerfield. The Leopards aided the rally with a one-out error.
Noel (0-4), who had two separate stints on the rubber, took the loss. She gave up four earned runs on six hits, walking five and striking out one. The sophomore was lifted in the second and then replaced her replacement to start the fourth inning and eventually finished the game. Holy Cross' Kali Hass (4-5) got the win after surrendering five runs on five hits with three walks over 3.2 innings in the shortened game. Julia Barrett threw an inning and a third of relief, allowing just two hits.
In the second game, Lafayette rallied to tie the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the seventh .(Lafayette was the home team due to conference rule which dictates the hosts are the visiting team on the second day of the four-game series).
As was the case for all but one batter in the series, Holy Cross led from the outset. The Crusaders broke through in the bottom of the third, scoring runs on RBI-singles by Fregenti and Reimer. The inning ended when Mary Episcopo throw from center cut down a third runner trying to score at home.
In the sixth, Lafayette put a runner on third with no outs, but needed a two-out error to score its first run of the game. Melanie Ruderman led off with a double, and a wild pitch put her 60 feet from homeplate. She scored when the third baseman mishandled a grounder to cut the margin to 2-1.
Holy Cross nearly extended the lead in the Holy Cross sixth. A lead-off double and groundout put a runner at third. Robinson's first strikeout of the afternoon accounted for the second out, and a run-saving, diving catch by Episcopo in left center kept the Crusaders' lead at one.
The Leopards sent the game to extras in the seventh. Lafayette scratched for the run, facing two outs with nobody aboard. Madeline Allen extended the inning, drawing a walk. Jordan Parsons (3-for-5) moved pinch runner Hasson to second with a singled through the right side.
Holy Cross made a pitching change, calling in Belanger from second to toe the rubber. Stacey Dorn pinch hit for Ruderman and promptly singled home the game-tying run with a ball down the line.
The game moved to the 10th when Gwen Turner beat out an infield hit and was sacrificed to second by Episcopo. Kushner hit a sinking liner to left center which Flemming caught on the dive and followed by doubling off Turner at second.
The game and the series ended in the 12th when Reimer's triple brought home Gustafson for the 3-2 final. Reimer finished the game 4-for-6 with two RBI.
Robinson (1-8) was the hard-luck loser, throwing 11.2 innings, while allowing three runs on nine hits with six walks and four strikeouts. Belanger (2-5) threw the final 5.1 innings of scoreless softball, scattering four hits.
Lafayette (1-24, 0-4) will have just one day of rest before playing a doubleheader at Rutgers on Tuesday beginning at 2 p.m.
