NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – The Holy Cross baseball team had its best offensive performance of the season in an 11-2 victory over UMass on Tuesday, March 19 at the New England Baseball Complex.

STATS LEADERS:

• Peter Dudunakis (3-for-4, three runs scored, RBI)
• Alex Gionis (1-for-2, double, three RBI)
• Evan Blum (2-for-4, double, RBI)
• Noah Luckenbaugh (3.0 IP, no hits, no runs, one walk, one strikeout)
• Kyle Johnson (2.0 IP, two hits, no runs)

W: Noah Luckenbaugh (1-0)
L: Daniel Livnat (0-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sophomore second baseman Peter Dudunakis had a two-out single in the bottom of the first, and in the next at bat, sophomore first baseman Evan Blum had a double to put runners on second and third. Senior third baseman Alex Gionis then doubled to left field to put the Crusaders up 2-0 early.
• Sophomore righty Noah Luckenbaugh kept UMass off the board early, not allowing any hits in his three innings pitched.
• In the bottom of the third, the Crusaders took advantage of defensive miscues by the Minutemen and built their lead to 5-0.
• Holy Cross blew the lead open in the bottom of the sixth with a six-run showing. Sophomore catcher Zach Buck had a leadoff single, followed by a walk by junior designated hitter Jared Enders and a bunt single by sophomore left fielder David Kale to load the bases. Freshman right fielder Ben Malgeri and junior center fielder Austin Masel each walked in a run to make it 7-0, and Kale scored on a passed ball to make it 8-0. Masel and Malgeri scored after a Blum single, and Dudunakis scored later on a fly ball from Gionis to make it 11-0.
• UMass broke the shutout in the seventh inning, scoring two runs, but could cut no closer than 11-2.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Luckenbaugh earned his first collegiate win with his three-inning, no-hit performance.
• Malgeri has reached base in 13 consecutive games and is on a six-game hitting streak. Dudunakis has now reached base in nine straight games.
• This is the first time in 2019 that Holy Cross has scored double-digit runs.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders are slated to make their 2019 Patriot League and Fitton Field debuts with a home doubleheader against Navy on Saturday, March 23.
• First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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