Score: Holy Cross 12, Lehigh 8
Pitching Decision: W: Joe Cravero (6-2) | L: Ethan Frohman (2-5)
Time: 1:05 p.m.
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hanover Insurance Park)
The Lead: Junior Anthony Critelli (Holmdel, N.J.) went 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs as the Crusaders earned a 12-8 victory over Lehigh on Sunday afternoon at Hanover Insurance Park to advance to the Patriot League Championship.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Crusaders started the game with a huge first inning, bringing in eight runs off of three hits. Critelli got the scoring started with a hard double off the center field wall to score sophomore Cam O'Neill (Lynn, Mass.) and senior Nick Lovullo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). After Critelli scored on a wild pitch, junior Josh Hassell (Tulsa, Okla.) and classmate Bill Schlich (Massapequa, N.Y.) found their way home as sophomore Thomas Russo (Weston, Mass.) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop on an attempted double play. Holy Cross would walk in two more runs with the bases loaded, and another run off a wild pitch to give them a commanding 8-0 lead after one.
- The Crusaders added three more runs in the second inning to extend their lead. Senior Bobby Indeglia (North Kingston, R.I.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in a run, as O'Neill and Critelli each registered RBI singles to give them an 11-0 lead.
- After Lehigh scored their first run of the game in the top of the third, Holy Cross responded with another run in the bottom of the inning as O'Neill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
- The Mountain Hawks had an offensive surge in the fifth inning, adding four runs on five hits to make it a 12-5 game.
- Lehigh added three more runs in the bottom of the ninth, but freshman pitcher Danny Barlok (Shrewsbury, Mass.) entered the game and forced the final three outs to secure the win for Holy Cross.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lehigh outhit the Crusaders 16-12.
- Holy Cross left 15 runners on base, while Lehigh left 11.
- Junior Joe Cravero (Hanover, N.H.) earned the win for the Crusaders, allowing three runs on six hits through 3.1 innings pitched in relief.
- Ethan Frohman took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) in the first inning.
- Critelli led the Crusaders offense, notching three RBIs and a run scored while going 2-for-5 at the plate. Schlich also had a productive day on offense, going 4-for-5 with a run scored.
- Lovullo had a strong game defensively, notching three putouts with five assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Holy Cross is now 60-52-0 all-time against the Mountain Hawks, and 5-4-0 against them in the Patriot League Tournament.
- This will be the Crusaders' fourth all-time appearance in the Patriot League Championship series, having most recently advanced to the finals in 2013. They have now advanced to the championship four times in the last seven seasons.
- Holy Cross will be looking to capture its first Patriot League Championship in program history.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross will return to action later this week in the Patriot League Championship series, when they will take on No. 1 seeded Navy in Annapolis, Md. Official start dates and times have yet to be announced.
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