THE BASICS:

• Score: Holy Cross 3, Long Beach State 2
• Records: HC (1-2); LB (2-1)
• Location: Long Beach State, Calif.
• The Lead: Holy Cross junior starting pitcher Brendan King (Brookline, Mass.) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in six innings of work to help lead the Crusaders to a 3-2 victory over Long Beach State in non-conference baseball action on Sunday afternoon at Blair Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After two scoreless frames to begin the contest, Holy Cross struck in the top of the third inning. To leadoff the frame, junior Alex Voitik (Shorewood, Ill.) launched a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
• Later in the third, Holy Cross senior Nick Lovullo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) ripped a two-RBI double into left field to score classmate Bobby Indeglia (North Kingstown, R.I.) and junior Josh Hassell (Tulsa, Okla.) to make it a 3-0 game.
• Long Beach State cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fourth, as Garrett Hampson scored on a Holy Cross error to make the score 3-1.
• The Dirtbags scored another run in the bottom of the fifth on a squeeze bunt with one out to make it a one-run game (3-2), but King was able to get out of the jam with two line-outs to end the frame.
• Holy Cross junior reliever Justin Finan (Barrington, R.I.) tossed two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth, and senior closer Sean Gustin (Stoneham, Mass.) shut the door with a 1-2-3 ninth to clinch the victory for the Crusaders.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• King picked up the win on the mound (1-0), as he allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. King struck out four batters, while only issuing one walk.
• Long Beach State starter Chris Mathewson was charged with the loss (0-1), as he allowed three runs on five hits in 6.0 innings pitched.
• Both teams recorded five hits apiece, as Holy Cross held the 2-1 edge in extra-base hits.
• Hassell was the only Crusader with multiple hits, as he batted 2-for-4 in the contest.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross returns to action on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 26-28 with a three-game series at William & Mary.

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