WORCESTER, Mass. – Lafayette softball dropped a pair of tightly-contested games in Saturday's Patriot League doubleheader with Holy Cross, losing 4-2 and 3-1.
 
In game one, Lafayette staked starter Stacy Gordon to a one-run lead in the top of the first. Natasha Miner opened the game by drawing a walk. Paige Grover's sac bunt put Miner into scoring position and Brooke Wensel brought her home on a single to the outfield. Lafayette led 1-0.
 
The hosts did all of their scoring in the third inning. Two runs scored on an error and Erin Bengston delivered a one-out, two-run home run to take a 4-1 lead.
 
In the top of the fifth, Miner was involved again, legging out a triple before scoring on an error on the play to cut the margin to 4-2.
 
The Leopards' had one hit off Holy Cross starter Alexandra Held (who was 2-for-3 at the plate) in the final two innings. She pitched all seven innings, striking out nine and giving up two runs on five hits in the circle win. Gordon allowed four runs, none of which were earned, on seven hits while striking out three for the Leopards.
 
In the second game, Holy Cross scored three runs in the first inning and never faltered in a 3-1 decision.
 
In that first inning, the Crusaders scored all of their runs with two outs. Bengston doubled and Taylor Wahler and Hannah Horton each had infield singles to drive in the three runs.
 
Freshman starting pitcher Kinzi Van Wyk settled in after the five-hit inning and did not allow more than one baserunner per inning over the five final frames. Van Wyk struck out three on the afternoon and did not walk a batter while scattering seven hits.
 
In the fifth, Hannah Lee's lead-off home run put the Leopards on the scoreboard. Lafayette threatened for more, loading the bases and forcing a pitching change before Katie Barbarick dealt a ground ball to end the inning. Barbarick picked up the save, holding Lafayette hitless over the 2.1 innings.
 
Lafayette (8-39-1, 1-16) will cap the 2019 season on Sunday with a single game vs. Holy Cross (13-35, 4-13). The game time has been pushed back to 3 p.m.