RICHMOND, Va. – The Holy Cross baseball team used a late push to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning, but couldn't hold off Richmond, falling 8-7 in a 12-inning affair on Thursday, March 10.

STATS LEADERS:
Holy Cross:
Wang (2-for-5, double, run scored)
McElroy (2-for-5, two RBI)
Scanlon (1-for-4, two RBI)
Mudd (2-for-5, double, run scored)

Richmond:
Toso (4-for-7, double, two RBI)
Hipsman (3-for-6, two RBI)

W: Corso (1-0)
L: Leimkuhler (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Freshman catcher Andrew Whinney drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to score a run in the top of the first. An RBI groundout tacked on a second run, and sophomore right fielder Jake McElroy dropped a single into shallow right field to score a pair of runs, giving Holy Cross a 4-0 lead in the opening frame.
• Richmond got a run back in the bottom of the first off a sacrifice fly.
• An RBI groundout scored freshman center fielder Tyler Mudd in the second inning, and freshman second baseman Brendan Jones scored after an error in the third, building a 6-1 lead for Holy Cross.
• The Spiders scored six unanswered runs, eventually taking a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the eighth with a single up the middle.
• Holy Cross responded right back to even things up in the top of the ninth. Sophomore shortstop Sam Kirkpatrick led off the frame with an infield single, and freshman third baseman Nick Wang dropped a single into shallow right to put runners on the corners. Freshman designated hitter Sean Scanlon sent a sac fly into left field, scoring the game-tying run.
• After a Richmond baserunner reached with one out in the ninth, McElroy caught a deep fly by the next batter and threw to first to send the game to extras.
• Freshman righty Tommy Leimkuhler worked his way out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 10^th with two consecutive flyouts.
• Mudd led off the top of the 11^th with a double, and advanced to third on a groundout before he was tagged out at home plate.
• Richmond put a runner aboard in the top of the 11^th with an infield single, but a double play to end the inning eliminated the threat by the Spiders.
• Scanlon led off the 12^th with a single, but Vincent Corso struck out the next two Holy Cross batters and drew a flyout to center to hold the 7-7 deadlock.
• Toso hit a double to lead off the bottom of the 12^th, and would come around to score after a fielder's choice to secure the victory for the Spiders.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders and Spiders will face off again on Friday, March 11.
• First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Pitt Field.