WORCESTER, Mass. – Aided by smart baserunning and timely defensive plays, the Holy Cross baseball team defeated Hartford, 12-6, on Wednesday, April 24 at Fitton Field.

STATS LEADERS:

• Andrew Selima (2-for-4, three RBI)
• David Kale (3-for-5, two runs scored, RBI, three stolen bases)
• Zach Buck (1-for-2, double, two RBI)
• Alex Gionis (2-for-4, triple, two runs scored, RBI)
• Chris Rinaldi (1-for-4, two runs scored, home run)
• Nate Wolf (1-for-2, double, RBI)
• Kellen McCormick (2-for-3, RBI)
• Zane Hedaya (2.2 IP, two hits, no runs, three strikeouts)

W: Matt Clarkin (1-0)
L: Connor Lewis (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Hartford put on two runners with nobody out in the first, but freshman lefty Matt Clarkin – in his first collegiate start – was able to pick off the lead runner at second for the first out. With two outs, Hartford's Zachary Ardito hit a single to right field and Devin Kellogg attempted to score from second, but junior right fielder Jared Enders made a perfect throw to freshman catcher Angelo D'Acunto, who applied the tag at the plate to keep the Hawks off the board.
• In the bottom half of the inning, sophomore outfielder David Kale hit a one-out single and then stole two bases to move to third; he was brought home by an RBI single from freshman designated hitter C.J. McKennitt to give Holy Cross a 1-0 lead.
• After issuing a leadoff walk in the second, Clarkin snagged a line drive by Hartford's Nik Pagan and threw to sophomore first baseman Andrew Selima to turn the double play. Clarkin subsequently forced a groundout to end the inning unscathed.
• In the bottom of the second, senior second baseman Alex Gionis hit a triple to score D'Acunto; an RBI groundout by sophomore third baseman Peter Dudunakis scored Gionis to make it a 3-0 game. Junior shortstop Chris Rinaldi followed with his first home run of the year to push the lead to 4-0.
• Hartford posted a three-run third to cut within 4-3, but the Crusaders tacked on another run in the bottom half of the third. Enders hit a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, and later came home off a single from senior left fielder Kellen McCormick.
• After reaching on a fielder's choice in the fourth, Rinaldi stole second base to move into scoring position, and he scored on an RBI single by Kale. Kale then stole second himself and scored on an RBI single by Selima, making it a 7-3 game.
• The Crusaders put up a five-spot in the fifth, loading the bases with nobody out after a single by McCormick and two hit batters. Sophomore catcher Zach Buck hit an RBI double for two runs, and Selima followed with a two-RBI single. Freshman Nate Wolf added a pinch-hit RBI double to push the score to 12-3.
• The Hawks kept Holy Cross off the board for the remainder of the game, scattering three more runs of their own over the final three innings to come within 12-6 in the top of the ninth, but could not cut further into the Crusaders' lead.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Holy Cross has now won seven of its last nine games and improves to 16-26 overall. Hartford falls to 13-23 overall.
• The Crusaders have now homered in five consecutive games – with seven in that span – after hitting just seven home runs prior to that point.
• Kale has reached base in 15 consecutive contests, while Selima extended his hitting streak to six games. D'Acunto has reached base in each of his last seven appearances.
• Kale's three stolen bases is the most by a Crusader in a single game this season.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross will host Army West Point for four Patriot League games on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28.
• Both doubleheaders are slated to begin at 1:05 p.m.

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