QUEENS, N.Y. – Junior Jack St. Clair (Newton, Mass.) went a collective 5-for-7 while scoring three runs, but the Holy Cross baseball team fell to St. John's in both games of the double header on Saturday afternoon in non conference action at Kaiser Stadium. With the losses the Crusaders fall to 3-11, while the Red Storm advances to 7-10. St. John's claimed a 5-3 victory during the first game and defeated the Crusaders 9-3 in the second game.

Game One:

Sophomore Nick Lovullo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) started the game off with a single through the left side and stole second to move into scoring position. Despite Lovullo's efforts, the Red Storm's James Lomangino shut down the Crusaders early scoring attempts. St. John's got on the board first with an unearned run off a walk in the bottom of the second inning. The Crusaders came back with a run in the top of the fourth. St. Clair doubled down the left field line with two outs in the inning. A batter later, sophomore Connor Perry (Haverhill, Mass.) doubled to left center to bring St. Clair home and tie the game.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Red Storm came back ahead with another run to bring them up 2-1. With one out in the top of the sixth, senior Brandon Cipolla (Abington, Mass.) singled and then advanced to second on a passed ball. The next at bat, St. Clair singled through the left side to advance Cipolla to third. On a wild pitch St. Clair reached second and Cipolla scored unearned to tie up the game.  St. Clair took third base on a passed ball and after Perry was walked, freshman Anthony Critelli (Holmdel, N.J.) sent a sacrifice fly into left field to score St. Clair and give the Crusaders their first lead of the game. St. John's scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to bring the Red Storm ahead 5-3, a lead they would hold until the end.

Freshman Ben White (Holden, Mass.) started off the game for the Crusader pitching staff allowing two runs on five hits in his 5.0 innings played. Freshman George Capen (Gainesville, Va.) came in in relief for the Crusaders pitching 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings. Junior Jeremy Perron (Bradenton, Fla.) pitched the final inning for the Crusaders and did not allow for a hit or a run. Junior Ryan Filipowicz (Yardley, Pa.) was charged with the loss during the game after his 0.1 innings pitched (0-1). St. John's pitcher Lomangino earned the victory (1-4), while Thomas Hackimer earned a save for his hitless and scoreless appearance in the top of the ninth inning.

Lovullo and Perry tallied two hits apiece and went 2-for-3 during the game. St. Clair led the team's hitting going 3-for-4 during the game with two runs. The Crusaders outhit the Red Storm 8-6 during the contest.

Game Two:

Lovullo started the game off for the Crusaders again with a double to left center, but even after reaching third Red Storm pitcher Ryan McCormick kept the Crusaders from getting on the board. The Crusaders came out in the top of the fifth and made their way onto the board. Sophomore Shane Sandoval (Westerly, R.I.) started the inning off with a double to right center. The next at bat, sophomore Bobby Indeglia (North Kingstown, R.I.) singled through the left side to advance Sandoval to third. Indeglia stole second base and Lovullo followed up with a ground out to the short stop that scored Sandoval for the first run of the game. In the bottom of the fifth, St. John's battled back with a two RBI triple from Zach Lauricella. The next batter brought Lauricella home with a single through the left side to take the Red Storm ahead 3-1.

In the top of the sixth, the Crusaders rallied to cut the deficit to one run. With one out, Cipolla singled through the left side. St. Clair moved Cipolla out to third with a left field double during the next at bat. Critelli reached base on an error the next at bat and scored Cipolla. With the bases loaded, Robert Wayman singled to right center scoring two players. The next at bat, with runners on second and third, Matt Harris sent one over the right field wall for a three RBI home run to bring the Red Storm ahead 8-2. St. John's tacked on another run when despite grounding into a double play in the bottom of the seventh, Alex Caruso scored the ninth run of the game for the Red Storm.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Crusaders attempted to rally. With St. Clair on first, Critelli singled through the left side and advanced St. Clair to second. Freshman Bill Schlich (Massapequa, N.Y.) singled to right field advancing Critelli and St. Clair. The next at bat, Sandoval reached on a fielder's choice that scored St. Clair and brought the score to 9-3, the eventual final score.

Freshman Phil Reese (Frederick, Md.) picked up the start and allowed two runs in his 4.0 innings pitched. Sophomore Colin Brown (Sonoma, Calif.) and freshman Jon Escobar (Inverness, Ill.) each came in and threw a scoreless and hitless inning of relief. Filipowicz was charged with the loss (0-2), while McCormick earned the victory (2-1).

During the contest both St. Clair and Indeglia went 2-for-3 as the only Crusaders with multiple hits during the performance. St. John's held the advantage outhitting the Crusaders 15-10.

The Crusaders return to action on Sunday, March 16 as they conclude their three game series at St. John's with a game at 1:00 p.m.