AMHERST, Mass. -- The Holy Cross baseball team capitalized on a pair of UMass errors in the top of the ninth inning to come from behind and earn a 7-6 victory over the Minutemen on Wednesday, March 31. 

The Crusaders (1-7) erased a 4-1 deficit in the top of the sixth with a four-run frame. After UMass (7-8) regained a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, Holy Cross scored two runs in the top of the ninth to take back the one-run advantage. Freshman right-handed pitcher Alex Bryant had three strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory in a back-and-forth battle. 

Senior right fielder Peter Dudunakis had a strong day, hitting a three-run home run in the sixth and a leadoff double in the ninth to lift Holy Cross. Bryant had six total strikeouts over three innings to earn his first collegiate win on the mound. 

STATS LEADERS: 

Holy Cross: 

• Dudunakis (2-for-3, double, home run, three RBI, stolen base)
• D'Acunto (1-for-4, RBI)
• Latham (run scored, two walks, stolen base)
• Bryant (W, 3.0 innings pitched, six strikeouts)

• Gervasi (3-for-5, double, three RBI)
• Judd (1-for-3, home run, two RBI)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• After senior first baseman Andrew Selima and Dudunakis walked, senior shortstop Cam Meyer used a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up. Junior catcher Angelo D'Acunto followed with a bunt single to score Selima and give Holy Cross its first run of the game. 
• UMass had a four-run bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead. 
• That three-run lead held until the top of the sixth. Freshman third baseman Thomas Latham walked and advanced to third after a failed pickoff attempt before scoring on a passed ball to bring the Crusaders within 4-2. 
• After sophomore center fielder Ben Dellacono walked and Selima reached on an error, Dudunakis hit a three-run homer to right-center to put Holy Cross in front, 5-4. 
• The Minutemen evened the score after a fielder's choice drove in a run in the seventh; shortstop Chris Pearsons hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to put UMass in front, 6-5.
• Dudunakis hit a double to lead off the ninth, and Meyer reached first after he was hit by a pitch. Both advanced with a steal, and Dudunakis came home to score -- and tie the game -- after freshman second baseman Sam Kirkpatrick had a sacrifice bunt and reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. 
• Meyer, who reached third following that error, scored the go-ahead run after UMass third baseman Aidan Wilde's errant throw brought first baseman Steve Lutazzi off the bag on a grounder by Latham. 
• Bryant struck out his first two batters of the ninth inning and, after issuing a two-out walk, had a looking strikeout to preserve the victory for Holy Cross. 

• Bryant's six strikeouts are the most in a single game by a Crusader this season. He now leads Holy Cross with 11 strikeouts on the year.
• Dudunakis' home run was the Crusaders' first home run of the season. He now has six career homers, the most of any active Holy Cross player.

DUE UP: 

• Holy Cross will host Bucknell in a pair of Patriot League doubleheaders on Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4. 
• First pitch is set for noon on both Saturday and Sunday at Fitton Field.