Bulldogs Beat Holy Cross 5-1, Quinnipiac 4-2

Yale-Holy Cross Box Score

Yale-Quinnipiac Box Score

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – After struggling at the plate in its first eight games, it was only matter of time before the Yale softball team broke out. Sunday was the day. Yale banged out 14 hits in a pair of victories – 5-1 over Holy Cross and 4-2 over Quinnipiac. Both games were part of the Stony Brook Invitational at University Field.

Christy Nelson and Mariclaire Rebman both had two hits for the Bulldogs in the victory over Holy Cross. Kayla Kuretich pitched well, striking out nine and allowing only four hits. In her last two games, Kuretich has 23 strikeouts and has issued only two walks.

Yale (2-8) trailed the Crusaders 1-0 after three innings, but scored twice in the fourth and three times in the sixth.

Ashley Sloan started the rally in the fourth with a single up the middle. She moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on Jennifer Ong's bunt single and scored on a wild pitch. Nelson knocked in the second run with a single.

Back-to-back doubles by Nelson and Mariclaire Rebman started the sixth and increased Yale's lead to 3-1. Lauren Huddleston followed with an RBI single, and Sloan drew a walk with the bases loaded to cap the scoring.

Kuretich cruised through the final innings, retiring eight of the last nine batters she faced.

The Bulldogs (2-8) wasted little time getting on the board against Quinnipiac, scoring twice in the first inning and two more times in the second. Meg Johnson had two hits and two RBI to lead the Yale attack. Holly Gutterud, who pitched the first five innings, and Jackie Manzer combined to strike out seven.

Ong started the first inning rally by drawing a walk, and she promptly stole second. Nelson then reached on an error, and Johnson followed with a two-run double to left-center.

In the second, Kelsey Warkentine led off with a single. She was erased on Lexi Peacock's fielder's choice. Chelsey Locarno then reached on an error and Sloan walked to load the bases. Ong also walked to force home Yale's third run and Nelson's RBI ground out made it 4-0.

Kate Allendorfer homered for the Bobcats (10-13) in the fourth and Angela Casella added an RBI single in the fifth.

Manzer retired all six batters she faced to earn her first career save.

The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday when they play a doubleheader at Marist. The first pitch of the first game is slated for 2:30 p.m.

Jackie Manzer photo by Ken Yanagisawa

Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity