HAMILTON – Jessica Hay tossed a complete-game shutout and
Nicole Rounsavill blasted a two-run homer to lead Colgate to a 2-0 victory and doubleheader split after Holy Cross claimed the opener 3-1 on Saturday at Eaton Street Field.
Colgate struck first in both ends of the twin bill. The Crusaders battled back to take the opening contest before Hay won a pitching duel in Game 2 to salvage the split for the Raiders.
Holy Cross 3, Colgate 1
After making a stellar over-the-shoulder catch at the wall in the top of the second inning,
Mia Guevarra carried the momentum over to her next at-bat in the bottom half of the frame.
Jordan Miller was hit by a pitch before Guevarra stroked a two-out RBI double into the left-center gap, scoring the game's first run and staking the Raiders an early 1-0 lead.
Holy Cross answered to claim the lead for good in the top of the third. Alex Held reached on an error and came around to score on a double to right center by Jackie Brewster. Jessie Nagel added a one-out RBI single to score Brewster and give the Crusaders a 2-1 edge.
The Crusaders added to their advantage on an RBI double by Erin Bengston in the top of the fifth. Bengston tried to score on a single to left, but
Rebecca Johnson gunned her out at the plate to hold the deficit at 3-1.
Back-to-back singles from Guevarra and
Baillie Jorth set the Raiders up with two runners on and one out in the fifth, but Holy Cross ace Kelly Nelson escaped the jam with an inning-ending strikeout to maintain the lead.
The Raiders went down in order in the last two innings, as Nelson capped her complete game with a perfect seventh to seal the opening victory, 3-1.
Colgate 2, Holy Cross 0
Hay outdueled Nelson in Game 2, going the distance while allowing four hits with two walks and two strikeouts to improve to 6-9 in the circle this season.
Holy Cross threatened in the third inning, but Hay fanned the Crusaders' No. 4 batter to strand two runners in scoring position and keep the game scoreless.
The game remained scoreless until Rounsavill provided all the scoring with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fourth. Guevarra beat out an infield single to set the stage for Rounsavill, who smashed a two-run blast over the wall in center to give Colgate a 2-0 lead.
Hay was dominant from the get-go. She worked around a pair of singles in the fifth and sixth innings before slamming the door with a perfect seventh inning to cap the 2-0 victory in the nightcap.
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate is now 19-22 overall and 4-7 in the league.
• Holy Cross moved to 9-29 on the season and 2-9 in league play.
KEY RAIDER NOTES
• Guevarra had three of Colgate's six hits on the day.
• She finished 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
• Jorth, Rounsavill, and
Virginia Irby recorded one hit apiece.
• Rounsavill's homer was her fourth of the season.
• Hay's complete-game shutout was the first of her collegiate career.
• Colgate now has five shutouts on the season.
UP NEXT
• Colgate and Holy Cross conclude their three-game series on Sunday.
• First pitch from Eaton Street Field is set for noon, with Patriot League Network carrying the free livestream.
