Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2
May 6, 2017
WORCESTER, Mass. -- Lafayette softball started its final season series in impressive fashion, beating Holy Cross 2-1 and 7-5 in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
In the first game, the Leopards paired timely hitting with a solid pitching performance from Stephanie Thomas. Thomas, who evened her record at 7-7, struck out three and allowed one run on eight hits.
The Crusaders scored their only run in the second inning when Emily Krisanda hit a solo homer. Brooke Wensel (2-for-3) answered that round-tripper with one of her own to lead off the top of the next inning, belting her third home run of the season while knotting the game at 1-1.
The Leopards took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Maddie Wensel got things started with a one-out double that Brooke Wensel promptly followed with a single. Kristyn Marinelli did the rest, plating Maddie Wensel with a sac fly for a 2-1 advantage.
Thomas gave up a hit in each of the final two innings, but escaped unscathed to finish off the victory.
In game two, Marinelli's performance stood out, as she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and also garnered the victory in the circle.
Lafayette scored a run in each of the first three innings, arriving on RBI-singles by Maddie Wensel, Mallory Kane and Marinelli (3-for-4).
The game was tied, however, at the end of three innings after Mandy McCarthy's two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning.
Lafayette went ahead with three runs in the fifth inning. Marinelli's third double of the season scored two and Alexis Randall doubled in one more run as the Maroon and White lead 6-3.
Holy Cross (12-28, 7-10) responded with a Taylor Wahler solo home run and a sac fly to cut the Leopard lead to 6-5.
The Crusader defense helped out the Leopard offense in the sixth when Jenna Orlando reached on a two-base error. Mallory Kane advanced her to third with one of her three hits in the game. Orlando did the rest, swiping home to stretch the lead to 7-5.
Following two innings of one-hit relief by Lindsey Cherry, Stacy Gordon came on in the seventh inning to earn her first save of the season.
Lafayette (13-27, 5-12) wraps up the Patriot League season on Sunday at noon at Holy Cross' Freshman Field.
