THE BASICS:

• Score: Holy Cross 8, Connecticut 7
• Records: Holy Cross (23-24); Connecticut (28-18)
• Pitching Decision: W: Filipowicz (1-0) | L: Over (0-2)
• Location: Storrs, Conn. (J.O. Christian Field)
• The Lead: Holy Cross sophomore Anthony Critelli (Holmdel, N.J.) delivered the go-ahead, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning to lift the Crusaders to the 8-7 victory over Connecticut in non-conference baseball action on Wednesday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field. The win for Holy Cross was its first over UConn since April 19, 1984, as it had lost or tied the 23 previous meetings with the Huskies (0-21-2).

• Holy Cross grabbed the early lead in the top of the first inning, as junior Connor Perry (Haverhill, Mass.) drove in classmate Nick Lovullo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) on a double into the left-center gap to put the Crusaders ahead 1-0. UConn, however, answered in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1.
• The Crusaders regained the lead in the top of the second, as junior Shane Sandoval (Westerly, R.I.) plated sophomore Josh Hassell (Tulsa, Okla.) on an RBI-double to give Holy Cross the 2-1 advantage.
• The Huskies rallied in the bottom of the second inning, as Jack Sundberg drove in a pair on base hit to give UConn the 3-2 lead.
• Holy Cross tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third inning, as Perry launched a solo home run over the right-field fence.
• The Crusaders broke the stalemate in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, freshman Cam O'Neill (Lynn, Mass.) roped a double into the left-center gap and scored during the next at-bat on a base hit by Hassell. Two batters later, Hassell crossed home on an error by the UConn catcher to give the Crusaders the 5-3 lead.
• Connecticut, however, rallied for two scores in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 5-5. The Huskies gained the 7-5 lead in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run home run by Willy Yahn.
• Critelli crossed home in the top of the eighth on an error by UConn to slice the deficit to 7-6.
• Holy Cross rallied in the top of the ninth to complete the comeback. With the bases loaded and two outs, Critelli laced a single through the left side to score O'Neill and junior Bobby Indeglia (North Kingstown, R.I.) to make the score its final, 8-7.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Holy Cross senior Ryan Filipowicz (Yardley, Pa.) earned his first win of the season (1-0), as he got one out in the eighth inning and all three in the ninth to clinch the victory. Sophomore starter Phil Reese (Frederick, Va.) tossed five innings in the no-decision, and allowed three runs (two earned) and seven hits.
• UConn reliever Devin Over was charged with the loss (0-2), as he allowed three runs on three hits in 3-1/3 innings of work.
• Holy Cross held the 14-10 advantage in total hits and the 5-2 edge in extra-base hits.
• Hassell led the Crusaders offensively with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. O'Neill belted two doubles in the game (2-for-5), while Perry went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a home run. Lovullo (2-for-3) and Critelli (2-for-2) also had multiple hits for Holy Cross.
• Holy Cross used seven pitchers in the contest.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The home run for Perry was his third of the season and the sixth of his career.
• UConn was unbeaten in the last 23 matchups against Holy Cross (21-0-2), with the Crusaders' last win over the Huskies coming on April 19, 1984.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross will return to action with the Patriot League Tournament semifinals on Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10. The No. 3 Crusaders will travel to No. 2 Lehigh for a best two-out-of-three series.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For everything Holy Cross baseball, follow the team on Twitter @HCrossBaseball and on Facebook at Holy Cross Crusaders Baseball. You can also subscribe for email alerts for all news and information on the team by clicking here.