RIVERSIDE, Calif. – For the second consecutive night, UC Riverside overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth to force extra innings, but senior center fielder Austin Masel hit an RBI single in the top of the 10^th to give the Holy Cross baseball team a 4-3 victory over the Highlanders on Friday, March 6.

STATS LEADERS:

• Austin Masel (2-for-5, three RBI, stolen base)
• Chris Rinaldi (2-for-5, double, two runs scored)
• David Kale (2-for-5, double, run scored, RBI)
• Riley Livingston (2-for-4, run scored)
• Luke Dawson (6.0 IP, one earned run, six hits, six strikeouts)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Highlanders (7-7) took an early 1-0 lead off a sacrifice fly in the first inning.
• Senior catcher Riley Livingston singled to lead off the third inning, and junior right fielder David Kale hit a one-out double to score Livingston and even the score. Senior shortstop Chris Rinaldi singled, but Kale was thrown out at the plate. Junior third baseman Cam Meyer hit another single to put runners on first and second before Masel had an RBI single to give Holy Cross (5-7) a 2-1 lead.  
• Rinaldi hit a leadoff double in the fifth and advanced to third on a groundout. Masel grounded out in the next at bat, scoring Rinaldi and extending the Crusader lead to 3-1.
• After allowing a first-inning run, junior lefty Luke Dawson kept UC Riverside off the board over his next five frames. The Highlanders had runners on second and third with just one out in the fifth, but Dawson struck out Jacob Shanks and forced a groundout to end the threat. UC Riverside again put a pair of runners on with one out in the sixth, but Dawson drew another strikeout and fly ball to center to preserve the Crusaders' two-run lead.
• An error with one out in the bottom of the ninth followed by a single gave the Highlanders a pair of baserunners; after a strikeout, a single to left cut the lead to 3-2, and UC Riverside tied the game and forced extras with another RBI single.
• Kale hit a single and Rinaldi reached on an error before Meyer walked to load the bases with one out in the top of the 10^th; Masel laced a single to left field to bring Kale home and give the Crusaders a 4-3 advantage.
• UC Riverside drew a walk to open the bottom of the 10^th, but freshman righty Jack DiLauro struck out the next batter and got two fly outs to end the game.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Dawson has allowed just three earned runs in four starts this season, owning an ERA of 1.11.
• Masel has had multi-hit games in each of the last four contests and has driven in eight runs in that span.

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross will play the third game of a four-game series against the Highlanders on Saturday, March 7.
• First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET.