GAME ONE
Score: Holy Cross 9, Lehigh 4
Pitching Decision: W: Brendan King (7-2) | L: Kevin Long (3-5)
Time: 1:05 p.m.
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hanover Insurance Park)
The Lead: Junior Josh Hassell (Tulsa, Okla.) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI as the Crusaders took game one of their Patriot League Semifinal series against Lehigh on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lehigh gained the first lead of the game, notching a run off an RBI single in the first inning.
- Holy Cross responded with three runs in the third inning to take command of the game. Senior Nick Lovullo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) hit a single through the left side to bring home freshman Travis Cloney (Wall, N.J.), and junior Anthony Critelli (Holmdel, N.J.) notched two RBIs with a single up the middle to score Lovullo and senior Bobby Indeglia (North Kingston, R.I.).
- The Mountain Hawks kept it a close game, adding another run off a solo-shot homer to right field to cut the Crusaders' lead to one.
- In the sixth inning, Indeglia and sophomore Thomas Russo (Weston, Mass.) each registered an RBI to extend the Crusaders' lead. With a score on a wild pitch, Indeglia would add a third run for the inning and make it 6-2 Crusaders.
- The Crusaders added a pair of runs in the seventh off a solo-shot home run from junior Josh Hassell (Tulsa, Okla.) and an RBI double from Cloney to make it 8-2.
- Junior Alex Voitik (Shorewood, Ill.) would cap off the Crusaders' offense in the eighth inning with an RBI single to bring home Critelli.
- The Mountain Hawks added a pair of runs in the ninth inning, but could not overcome the deficit.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Holy Cross outhit the Mountain Hawks 15-9.
- Both teams left nine runners on base.
- Junior Brendan King (Brookline, Mass.) earned the win, allowing just three runs on seven hits over eight innings of play while dealing nine strikeouts.
- Kevin Long took the loss for Lehigh, allowing five runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings pitched.
- Hassell led the Crusaders' offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Six Crusaders scored at least one run in the win while Hassell, Russo and Indeglia all scored twice.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- King's win was the 10th pitching victory of his career.
- Critelli notched his 400th putout of the season in the win, he now has 409 following Saturday's doubleheader.
- This was sophomore Cam O'Neill's (Lynn, Mass.) 100th career game played at Holy Cross.
- Hassell's home run was his ninth of the season, tying him with teammate Critelli for third all-time in school history.
GAME TWO
Score: Lehigh 18, Holy Cross 5
Pitching Decision: W: Mark Washington (6-1) | L: Phil Reese (3-3)
Time: 4:20 p.m.
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hanover Insurance Park)
The Lead: The Crusaders took an 18-5 loss in game two of Saturday's Patriot League Semifinal doubleheader to force a game three on Sunday at Hanover Insurance Park.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lehigh jumped out to an early lead with three runs scored on four hits.
- The Crusaders bounced back with a strong offensive push in the next inning to tie the game. After Cloney walked and Indeglia hit an infield single, Lovullo hit a three-run homer to right field.
- The Mountain Hawks regained control of the game, adding a total of six runs through the next two innings.
- Indeglia brought home another run with an RBI double to score Cloney in the fourth inning, before Lehigh added three runs to extend its lead in the bottom of the frame.
- The Mountain Hawks kept control of the game on offense, adding six more runs in the final two innings of play.
- Senior Shane Sandoval (Westlery, R.I.) hit an RBI double to center field in the ninth inning, but Lehigh's lead was too much for Holy Cross to overcome.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- The Mountain Hawks outhit Holy Cross 18-10.
- The Crusaders left nine runners on base, while Lehigh left six.
- Junior Phil Reese (Frederick, Md.) took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits through two innings pitched.
- Mark Washington earned the win for Lehigh, allowing one run on four hits in 5.2 innings.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross is back in action tomorrow, as they will take on Lehigh in a deciding game three in their Patriot League Semifinal series with the Mountain Hawks at 1:05 p.m. at Hanover Insurance Park.
- The winner of the series will face the victor between No. 1 Navy and No. 4 Bucknell, who will also decide their series Sunday, in the Patriot League Championship.
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