BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – With a three-run eighth inning and clutch performances by several Crusaders, the Holy Cross baseball team posted a 5-4, come-from-behind victory to open its series at CSU Bakersfield on Saturday, Feb. 29.

STATS LEADERS:

• Luke Dawson (6.0 IP, one earned run, eight strikeouts)
• Eric Lopes (2.2 IP, no earned runs, one strikeout)
• Ben Dellacono (2-for-4, double, RBI)
• Austin Masel (2-for-4, RBI)
• David Kale (1-for-4, two RBI)
• Andrew Selima (home run)
• Chris Rinaldi (2-for-4, triple, run scored)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Roadrunners (4-4) got out to an early lead over Holy Cross (2-5), scoring a run off an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. Junior left-handed pitcher Luke Dawson settled from there, not allowing any runs over his next five innings.
• The Crusaders took the lead in the top of the third, with junior right fielder David Kale driving in a pair of runs with a single through the right side.
• The score remained at 2-1 in favor of the Crusaders until the bottom of the seventh, when a pair of RBI singles gave the Roadrunners a 3-2 lead.
• Junior first baseman Andrew Selima hit a one-out home run in the top of the eighth to tie the game up immediately. Junior third baseman Cam Meyer followed with a double, and senior center fielder Austin Masel brought him home with a single to center, making it a 4-3 lead for Holy Cross.
• Freshman second baseman Ben Dellacono added in an insurance run in the next at bat, sending an RBI double down the right field line to give the Crusaders a 5-3 lead.
• CSU Bakersfield got an unearned run back in the bottom of the eighth after an error and sacrifice fly, but junior right-hander Eric Lopes drew a groundout to end the inning and did not allow a baserunner in the ninth to earn the victory.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Dawson's eight strikeouts doubled his previous career high of four. He has given up just two earned runs this season for an ERA of 0.98 through three starts.
• Selima is the first Crusader to record multiple home runs this season. He leads the team with four RBI this year.
• Dellacono extends his reached-base streak to six games.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders will face the Roadrunners again on Sunday, March 1 at 3 p.m. ET.
• Junior right-handed pitcher Garret Keough is set to start for the Crusaders.