THE BASICS:

• Score (Game 1): Western Carolina 22, Holy Cross 11
• Score (Game 2): Holy Cross 9, Western Carolina 3
• Records: Holy Cross (3-11); Western Carolina (5-6)
• Pitching Decision (Game 1): W: Jonathan Waszak (2-0) | L: Donny Murray (0-1)
• Pitching Decision (Game 2): W: Ben White (1-2) | L: Korey Anderson (0-1)
• Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (Hennon Stadium)
• The Lead: Holy Cross sophomore starting pitcher Ben White (Holden, Mass.) struck out nine batters over seven innings to help lead the Crusaders to a game two victory over Western Carolina, 9-3, on Saturday afternoon at Hennon Stadium. The Catamounts defeated the Crusaders, 22-11 in the first game of the twinbill.

GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Western Carolina pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to gain the 2-0 lead. The Catamounts added two more scores in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 4-0.
• Holy Cross scored its first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning, as sophomore Josh Hassell (Tulsa, Okla.) launched a solo home run over the left-field fence to cut the deficit to 4-1.
• The Catamounts increased their lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the fifth, but Holy Cross sophomore Anthony Critelli (Holmdel, N.J.) scored on a groundout in the top of the sixth to make the score 7-2.
• The Crusaders put up a crooked number in the top of the seventh inning to slice into the margin. Freshman Cam O'Neill (Lynn, Mass.) brought in the first run of the frame on a sacrifice fly to plate senior Evan Ocello (Camarillo, Calif.). Later in the inning, junior Connor Perry (Haverhill, Mass.) made the score 7-6 with a three-run homer over the right-center fence.
• Western Carolina, however, put the game out of reach in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the hosts struck for 15 runs on six hits to gain the 22-6 advantage. The Crusaders issued eight free passes and three hit batters during the inning.
• Holy Cross added four runs in the top of the eighth inning and one more in the ninth to make the score its final, 22-11.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Western Carolina pitcher Jonathan Waszak earned the win (2-0), as he tossed four shutout innings in the victory.
• Holy Cross senior starter Donny Murray (Walpole, Mass.) was charged with the loss (0-1), as he allowed four runs on five hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
• The Catamounts held the 14-11 edge in total hits.
• Ocello was the only Crusader with multiple hits, as he batted 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a scoreless opening frame, Holy Cross struck in the top of the second inning. Schlich drove in the first run on an RBI-single, which brought in O'Neill. Two batters later, Hassell cashed in a pair on a single into the left-center gap to plate Critelli and O'Neill. Junior Bobby Indeglia (North Kingstown, R.I.) and Hassell scored later in the inning to give Holy Cross the 5-0 lead.
• Western Carolina responded with a pair of scores in the bottom of the second and one run in the third to cut the margin to 5-3.
• The Crusaders added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the fourth to make the score 7-3. Ocello drove in junior Nick Lovullo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) for the first run of the frame and came around to score on a senior Jack St. Clair (Newton, Mass.) RBI-double later in the inning.
• Holy Cross scored twice more in the top of the eighth inning on another double by St. Clair to give the Crusaders the 9-3 advantage. The Catamounts only had two base runners over the final two frames, as Holy Cross held on for the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• White only allowed four hits and two earned runs over the seven innings in the 100-pitch winning effort (1-2).
• Crusader junior reliever Sean Gustin (Stoneham, Mass.) tossed two no-hit frames with three punchouts to secure the victory.
• Western Carolina starter Korey Anderson was charged with the loss (0-1), as he allowed five runs (four earned) in 1.2 innings pitched.
• Holy Cross held the 13-4 advantage in the hitting department.
• The Crusader offense in game two was led by Critelli, who batted 3-for-4 with a run scored. St. Clair went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while O'Neill went 2-for-4.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Ocello extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
• The win for White was the first of his career.
• The home runs were the second of the season for both Hassell and Perry.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross will wrap up the four-game series with Western Carolina on Sunday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m.

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