BRIGHTON – The Holy Cross baseball team fell to No. 21 Boston College, 18-12, in the Crusaders' season opener on Wednesday, March 17.

Seven Crusaders had a multi-hit day in the slugfest, headlined by a standout collegiate debut from freshman second baseman Sam Kirkpatrick, who had four RBI on a 3-for-5 day, including a double and a triple. Senior center fielder David Kale went 3-for-6 with a triple and three RBI.

STATS LEADERS:
Holy Cross:

• Kirkpatrick: 3-for-5, double, triple, three runs scored, walk, four RBI
• Kale: 3-for-6, three RBI, run scored
• Wolf: 3-for-4, two runs scored
• Blum: 3-for-5, walk, three runs scored
• Latham: 2-for-4, walk, RBI
• D'Acunto: 2-for-5, RBI, run scored
• Crotty: 1.0 IP, no hits

Boston College:

• Dempsey: 3-for-4, four RBI
• Cimini: 4-for-4, RBI, three runs scored
• Leary: 2-for-5, 4 RBI

W: Joey Ryan (3-0)
L: Matt Remley (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders took an early 1-0 lead after senior first baseman Andrew Selima had a two-out double in the first and sophomore designated hitter Jordan Petrushka brought him home with a single.
• A two-run homer gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first.
• The Crusaders tacked on a pair of runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded after consecutive singles from senior right fielder Evan Blum, Kirkpatrick and freshman third baseman Thomas Latham, an RBI groundout scored Blum. Kirkpatrick would later score on a wild pitch to give Holy Cross a 3-2 lead.
• BC regained the lead with a two-run fourth, and added five more runs in the fifth.
• Holy Cross earned back a run in the top of the sixth after Kale hit a stand-up triple and scored on a sac fly. The Eagles responded, though, with another five-run inning in the bottom of the sixth to go up 14-4.
• The Crusaders scored three runs in the top of the seventh, after Kirkpatrick hit a two-run triple and scored on a groundout; the Eagles put another on the board in the bottom of the seventh.
• After Holy Cross loaded up the bases in the top of the eighth, Kirkpatrick had a two-run double, and Kale followed with a two-run single up the middle bring Holy Cross within 15-11.
• BC had a three-run bottom of the eighth. The Crusaders tacked on one more run in the top of the ninth, after Selima scored on a sacrifice fly.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• This is the most runs Holy Cross has scored in a season opener since the 2007 season.
• With Kirkpatrick and Kale's triples, this is the first time since April 14, 2019 that the Crusaders have recorded multiple triples in a game.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross will begin Patriot League play when it visits Lafayette for a three-game series beginning Saturday, March 20.
• First pitch on Saturday is set for 3 p.m. On Sunday, March 21, the Crusaders will play a doubleheader beginning at noon.