THE BASICS:

• Score: Long Beach State 7, Holy Cross 1
• Records: LB (1-0); HC (0-1)
• Location: Long Beach, Calif.
• The Lead: Holy Cross junior first baseman Anthony Critelli (Holmdel, N.J.) batted 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a run scored, but the Crusaders were defeated by Long Beach State, 7-1, in non-conference baseball action on Friday evening at Blair Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Dirtbags struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, as Luke Rasmussen drove in a pair of runs on a base hit into left field to give the hosts an early 2-0 lead.
• Long Beach State increased its lead with a run in the second inning and two scores in the third frame to gain a 5-0 advantage.
• Holy Cross scored its lone run of the game in the top of the fourth inning, as senior Connor Perry (Haverhill, Mass.) plated Critelli on an RBI-single into center field – after Critelli led off the frame with a double – to make the score 5-1.
• The Dirtbags added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to gain a 7-1 lead.
• The Crusaders managed only two hits the rest of the way, as Long Beach State would earn the 7-1 triumph.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Long Beach State starter Darren McCaughan picked up his first win of the season (1-0), as he tossed seven innings and allowed one run on three hits, while fanning six.
• Holy Cross junior starting pitcher Phil Reese (Frederick, Md.) was charged with the loss (0-1), as he surrendered five runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings of work. Reese struck out four and issued a trio of walks.
• Long Beach State held a 7-5 edge in the hitting department, as each team had a pair of extra-base hits.
• Perry also had a multi-hit game for Holy Cross, going 2-for-3 with one RBI.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross and Long Beach State will play the second contest of their three-game series on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5:00 p.m. (ET).

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