| Stat Comparison |
| Category |
HC |
BU |
| Runs |
1 |
6 |
| Hits |
4 |
10 |
| Errors |
2 |
0 |
| Left On Base |
7 |
9 |
| Box Score |
WACO, Texas — The Holy Cross baseball team kept things close early against No. 15 Baylor, but the Bears pulled away late for a 6-1 victory to earn the series sweep on Sunday, February 17.
STATS LEADERS:
W: Ryan Leckich, Baylor (1-0)
L: Pat McGowan, Holy Cross (0-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Senior righty Pat McGowan paced the Crusaders in a tough pitching duel early, going toe-to-toe with Baylor's Anderson Needham through three scoreless innings.
- After Holy Cross had no baserunners through the first three innings, junior shortstop Chris Rinaldi had a leadoff walk to begin the fourth. Junior designated hitter Riley Livingston pushed him to second with a sac bunt, and Rinaldi advanced to third on a wild pitch, but the Crusaders were unable to bring Rinaldi home.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Baylor became the first to break the deadlock, pushing two runs across in the inning.
- Sophomore first baseman Evan Blum singled with two outs in the fifth to break the Baylor no-hitter, and senior third baseman Alex Gionis followed with a single before Rinaldi walked again to load the bases. Livingston subsequently earned a walk to force a run across and cut the Bears' lead in half, 2-1. Relief pitcher Ryan Leckich then stepped in and forced a groundout to end the inning, ending the Crusader threat.
- The Bears tacked on three runs in the seventh inning to build their lead and added another in the eighth to ensure the 6-1 win.
DUE UP:
- Holy Cross heads to Alabama-Birmingham for a three-game series beginning on Friday, February 22.