THE BASICS:

• Score: #23 Texas A&M 16, Holy Cross 11
• Records: Texas A&M (2-0); Holy Cross (0-2)
• Pitching Decision: W: Jason Freeman (1-0) | L: Zach Fox (0-1)
• Location: College Station, Texas (Olson Field at Blue Bell Park)
• The Lead: Holy Cross sophomore first baseman Anthony Critelli (Holmdel, N.J.) batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and four runs batted, but the Crusaders fell to No. 23 Texas A&M, 16-11, in non-conference baseball action on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a scoreless first by both teams, the Aggies grabbed the 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Holy Cross, however, countered with four runs in the top of the third. Freshmen Dan Vucovich (Lititz, Pa.) and Cam O'Neill (Lynn, Mass.) scored the first two runs of the inning for the Crusaders. Critelli then doubled home both senior Evan Ocello (Camarillo, Calif.) and sophomore Josh Hassell (Tulsa, Okla.) to tie the game at 4-4.
• The Aggies scored once in the bottom of the third, but the Crusaders rallied back and grabbed the 6-5 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Critelli again drove in two Crusaders on a double to left field to score junior Nick Lovullo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and O'Neill to put Holy Cross up one (6-5).
• Holy Cross grabbed the 7-5 lead in the fifth, as Ocello plated Vucovich on an infield single. Texas A&M, however, knotted the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the inning.
• The Crusaders plated another run in the sixth, as junior Connor Perry (Haverhill, Mass.) belted a double into the right-center gap to score senior Jack St. Clair (Newton, Mass.) and give the Crusaders the 8-7 edge.
• The Aggies put up two runs in the bottom of the sixth to gain the lead back and added seven insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh to go ahead 16-8.
• Holy Cross tried to mount a comeback in the top of the eighth inning. Lovullo scored the first run of the frame on a sacrifice fly by Perry. Two batters later, the Crusaders loaded the bases and Vucovich drew a walk to plate St. Clair. O'Neill then hit a sacrifice fly to score Critelli to make the score 16-11. Texas A&M, however, would be able to hold on to claim the five-run victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Texas A&M reliever Jason Freeman picked up the win (1-0), as he tossed 2.1 innings and allowed two earned runs and five hits.
• Senior Holy Cross starter Donny Murray (Walpole, Mass.) tossed 4.2 innings and allowed seven runs and eight hits, as sophomore Zach Fox (Los Gatos, Calif.) was charged with the loss (0-1). Fox allowed two runs on two hits in one inning pitched.
• Both teams' offenses played well as Texas A&M edged Holy Cross, 15-14, in the hitting department. The Crusaders held the 3-2 advantage in extra-base hits.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross will wrap up the three-game series with Texas A&M on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1:05 p.m. (EST).

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