BROOKLINE, Mass. – The Holy Cross baseball team fell in a pair of close games to Northeastern University on Saturday, March 16.

GAME ONE:

Holy Cross 0, Northeastern 1

Stats Leaders:

• Zane Hedaya (3.0 IP, one hit, no runs)
• Ben Malgeri (1-for-3)
• Alex Volpi (1-for-3, double)

W: Sean Mellen (2-0)
L: Declan Cronin (0-3)
S: Andrew Misiaszek (5)

How It Happened:

• Junior right-handed pitcher Zane Hedaya allowed just one hit and no runs through the first three innings, but Northeastern's Sean Mellen matched the effort with three hitless innings.
• Freshman right fielder Ben Malgeri had a single to lead off the fourth inning; he was out after junior center fielder Austin Masel reached on a fielder's choice. The Crusaders loaded the bases after walks were issued to sophomore second baseman Peter Dudunakis and sophomore catcher Zach Buck, but Holy Cross was unable to bring any runs across.
• Mellen kept the Crusaders at bay with 11 strikeouts on the day and allowed just two total hits, including a leadoff double for junior first baseman Alex Volpi in the fifth.
• Northeastern broke the shutout in the bottom of the sixth after Kyle Peterson scored an unearned run on an RBI groundout from Ian Fair.

GAME TWO:

Holy Cross 3, Northeastern 6

Stats Leaders:

• Ben Malgeri (1-for-4, RBI)
• Austin Masel (1-for-3, RBI)
• Alex Gionis (1-for-4, triple, run scored)

W: Tom Githens (1-0)
L: Pat McGowan (0-5)
S: Josh Winkler (1)

How It Happened:

• Northeastern got on the board early with a run in the bottom of the first.
• The Crusaders took a 2-1 lead in the third inning; Volpi was hit by a pitch and junior shortstop Chris Rinaldi had a single to put runners on first and second, and Enders had a sacrifice bunt to move them to second and third. Malgeri brought Volpi home with a single through the left side, and Masel had a sacrifice bunt to score Rinaldi.
• The Huskies regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third and added two more runs to take a 5-2 lead in the fifth inning.
• Senior third baseman Alex Gionis had a triple to lead off the seventh and scored on a sac fly from Volpi to cut the lead to 5-3.
• Holy Cross could get no closer, as the Huskies notched an insurance run to take a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Malgeri has reached base in 10 consecutive games.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders play another doubleheader against Northeastern on Sunday, March 17.
• First pitch is set for 11 a.m.

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