Hartquist Keeps Streak Alive in Sweep of Holy Cross

Stephanie Hartquist stretched her hitting streak to 15 games with three hits in two games.

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HAMILTON, N.Y. (4/10/2010) - Michelle Hollebeke (North Reading, Mass.) went the distance on a seven-hitter as Colgate downed visiting Holy Cross 8-2 in the first game of a softball doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Raiders completed the sweep against their Patriot League foes by holding on to a 9-8 decision in the second game.

Colgate, which improved to 20-8 overall with the two victories and evened its league record at 3-3, received at least one hit from every batter in the lineup in the opener. Alana Dyson (Grovetown, Ga.) and Emmie Dolfi (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) each tallied a pair of hits to lead the 11-hit attack.
Leading 3-2, the Raiders broke open the game with a three-run bottom of the fifth and added two more in the sixth. Jennifer Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.) drove home Amanda Zranchev (Budd Lake, N.J.) from second with a single up the middle. The sophomore along with Stephanie Hartquist (Homer, N.Y.) raced around the bases on errors by the centerfielder and catcher to give Colgate a four-run advantage.

In the sixth, Brittany Hanrahan (Frankfort, Ill.) led off the inning by belting her first homer of the year over the leftfield fence. Colgate plated its final run as Dolfi scored from third on an error.
The Raiders opened scoring in the first on a run scoring single by Nicole Siedhof (Canton, Pa.). After the Crusaders knotted the game in the second, Colgate took the lead for good with a two-run bottom of the second. Dolfi and Dyson each recorded RBI singles in the frame.

Hollebeke fanned six and improved to 10-5 on the year with the win. The sophomore returned in the sixth inning and allowed two hits and three unearned runs to get the save. Courtney O'Connell (Palm Harbor, Fla.) improved to 4-2 overall by pitching the first five innings.

Colgate appeared like it was going to make short work of the Crusaders by jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings. Hartquist, who went two for three with three RBI, stretched her team-high hitting streak to 15 games with a run scoring single to the pitcher. Three batters later, Nicole Siedhof singled to center driving home Ortega and Natalie Siedhof (Canton, Pa.). Melissa Babb-Renta (Glenview, Ill.) ended the scoring in the inning with a single to score Natalie Siedhof.

Up 6-2 in the third, Colgate added one more in the third as Dyson drove home Hanrahan, who opened the inning with a double to right.

Holy Cross chipped away at the deficit with a three-run homer in the fifth by Keeley Seniuk to pull within 7-5. After the Crusaders closed within 7-6, Colgate got some much needed insurance in the bottom of the sixth. Hartquist, who leads the nation in sacrifice flies, lifted a shot to center to plate Dolfi from third. Ortega followed with a double to right center as the
Raiders regained a three-run lead.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Amanda Audette belted a deep double to right that scored two to get Holy Cross back within one. However, the Crusaders stranded the tying run on third and the go ahead score on second as Tiffany Medwid lined out to the pitcher to end the game. Dyson went three of four to lead Colgate's 12-hit performance. Along with Hartquist, Ortega has a two-hit outing.

Colgate and Holy Cross will end the four-game set Sunday afternoon with another doubleheader. Opening pitch is set for a noon start.

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