Hamilton, NY — Senior righthander Elena Isaac (Chandler, AZ) pitched a complete game shutout in the opener as 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (19-7, PL 1-1) defeated Holy Cross 4-0 in the first game of a Patriot League doubleheader. The Crusaders (4-8, PL 1-1) came back in the nightcap to beat 51³Ô¹ÏÍø 5-3 with three unearned runs in the sixth inning.
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Isaac (9-2), who picked up her 20th career shutout, allowed three hits, while striking out one and walking none. She pitched perfect ball for the first four innings before Megan Lally led off the fifth with a double.
The Raiders used the long ball in the opener to defeat the Crusaders. Dorothy Donaldson (Lakeland, FL) blasted her sixth home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning for a 1-0 lead. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø added its final three runs in the sixth inning.
Nichole Rawson (Palmdale, CA) led off the sixth with her first home run of the season. Later in the inning, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø scored on a Holy Cross throwing error and Isaac’s sacrifice fly.
Nicole Vitti (3-3) was the losing pitcher, allowing five hits while striking out four and walking two.
Kim Olmstead (Spring Hill, FL) had a pair of hits for the Raiders, while Nichole Rawson was 2-for-3.
In the nightcap, Holy Cross scored an unearned run in the first inning before going ahead 2-0 in the third inning on Jean Connolly’s RBI single.
The Raiders came back with a pair of the runs in the fourth inning to tie the contest. Rachel Smith (Annandale, VA) had a two-run single to plate both runs. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø went in front 3-2 in the fifth inning when freshman first baseman Danielle Soule (Glendale, CA) hit her first collegiate home run over the left field fence.
Holy Cross scored three unearned runs in the sixth inning for the victory. Michelle Greene (1-3) went the distance for the Crusaders giving up eight hits, striking out three and walking four.
Kelsey Nordstrom (Salina, KS) worked the first three innings for the Raiders, before giving way to Kate Howard (4-4) (Wheaton, IL) in the fourth inning. Isaac worked the final two innings coming in with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth inning.
Erin Hanna (Tucson, AZ) was 2-for-3 for the Raiders.