BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Holy Cross baseball team posted a 7-4 win over CSU Bakersfield on Tuesday, March 3, to take three out of four games for a series victory against the Roadrunners.  

STATS LEADERS:

• Riley Livingston (3-for-5, double, four RBI)
• Chris Rinaldi (2-for-4, double, two runs scored)
• Austin Masel (2-for-5, double, two runs scored, RBI)
• Cam Meyer (3-for-5, two doubles)
• Luke Fox (W, 2.1 IP, no hits, no runs, three strikeouts)
• Kyle Johnson (2.2 IP, three hits, no runs, four strikeouts)
• Eric Lopes (S, 1.0 IP, no hits, one strikeout)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Roadrunners (5-6) got a first-inning run after a lineout by CJ Rivers scored Damian Henderson. In the bottom of the second, CSUB tacked on another run with a two-out RBI triple to take a 2-0 lead.
• A three-run fourth swung the lead in favor of the Crusaders (4-6). Senior center fielder Austin Masel singled to center before advancing to third on an error, and a catcher's interference followed by a walk put on freshman second baseman Ben Dellacono and senior shortstop Chris Rinaldi to load the bases. Senior catcher Riley Livingston singled to score Masel, and Dellacono scored after a throwing error from the left fielder, making it a 2-2 game. Freshman designated Andrew McKenna then had an RBI groundout to give the Crusaders a 3-2 advantage.
• Junior third baseman Cam Meyer hit a one-out double in the fifth and scored on a double from Masel in the next at bat to make it a 4-2 advantage for the Crusaders. After Dellacono walked and Rinaldi singled to load the bases, Livingston hit a bases-clearing double to extend the Holy Cross lead to 7-2.
• The Roadrunners tacked on two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-4 game; with runners on first and second and just one out, junior righty Kyle Johnson drew two swinging strikeouts to end the threat.
• Junior righty Eric Lopes entered in the ninth for the save opportunity, recording a strikeout and a pair of groundouts.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Livingston's four RBI bested his previous career high of three.
• Meyer's three hits matched a career high; this also marked his first career game with multiple doubles.  
• Freshman right-handed pitcher Nate Chudy made his first collegiate start, throwing 2.2 innings and striking out three.
• Fox's appearance was the second of his career; he earned his first career strikeout in the fourth inning.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders will travel to face UC Riverside in a four-game series beginning Thursday, March 5.