WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross took both games of Lafayette softball's Saturday doubleheader, recording 3-1 and 2-0 finals in Patriot League play.
 
In game one, the Leopards' defense came through with big plays in the first two innings. With a pair of runners aboard in each frame with no outs, Lafayette turned double plays. In the first, Natasha Miner started a 5-3 double play and then starting pitcher Kinzi Van Wyk followed with a strikeout. In the second, Kaili Reitano snared a line drive and before doubling off a runner at first base and setting the stage for Van Wyk to strike out the final batter of the inning.
 
The Crusaders broke out for three runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs and two aboard, Jessie Nagel hit a three-run home run that would be all the offense the Crusaders would need.
 
Holy Cross starting pitcher Kelly Nelson retired the Leopards in order over the first three innings, before they got on the scoreboard in the fourth. Miner had Lafayette's first hit of the game with a single to right. Gracey Harvey came to the plate with runners on first and second and no outs and promptly doubled to left to cut the deficit to 3-1. Nelson responded by striking out the next three batters to end the rally.
 
Nelson, Holy Cross' career strikeouts leader, finished with 10 strikeouts in the game and limited Lafayette to a pair of hits in the fourth inning. Van Wyk, who took a hard ground ball off her hand in the first inning, managed to pitched three innings. She allowed three runs on seven hits before giving way to Kailee Sawai. Sawai was stellar in relief, holding Holy Cross to just one hit over three innings while striking out one.
 
Game two was more closely contested softball in a 2-0 final.
 
The hosts scored a run in the first inning on Megan Yurchick's two-out single off Sawai, who started the second game in the circle.
 
The Crusaders doubled their advantage in the fourth inning when Bailey Bates singled in a run.
 
The Leopards threatened in the fifth inning. With two outs, Erica Brasher and Miner both reached on singles. Miner stole second to move into scoring position before Yurchick struck out Harlie Bickett to end the inning.  
 
In the top of the seventh, the Leopards looked to take advantage of two Holy Cross errors. The second error pushed Yurchick from the circle in favor of game one starter, Nelson.
 
Nelson faced the top of the order with one out and Leopard baserunners on first and second. She enticed Miner into a flyout to center and then retired Bickett following a seven-pitch at bat that ended with the umpire's called third strike.
 
Nelson collected the two-out save while Yurchick was the circle winner. Sawai allowed two runs on four hits over four innings. Jacqueline Cal, who threw the final two frames for the Leopards, held the Crusaders to one hit and also struck out one.  
 
The teams will close out the series and the season with game three on Sunday at noon.