WORCESTER, Mass. — The Holy Cross baseball team rolled to a 17-7 victory in eight innings over Harvard on Wednesday, March 27 in the Crusaders' home opener at Fitton Field.

STATS LEADERS: 
Holy Cross (9-15)
Cooney (2-for-5, triple, four RBI, run scored)
C. Brown (3-for-5, RBI, three runs scored)
Toomey (double, three RBI)
Nesson (2.1 IP, no runs, two hits, three strikeouts)
Royer (2-for-5, two RBI, run scored)

Harvard (3-14)
Snopek (3-for-4, RBI, run scored)
Fang (3-for-5, RBI, run scored)

THE DECISION:
W: Harnisch (1-0) 
L: Dowling (0-2)
S: Sutman (1)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Harvard jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a bases-loaded walk and two-run double in the second inning. 
• Holy Cross got a run back in the bottom of the second when freshman designated hitter Braden Connors led off the inning with a walk and later came around to score on an RBI groundout. 
• The Crusaders then erupted for five runs in the third inning. Freshman catcher Colin Brown singled to lead off the frame, and later came around to score on a sac fly. Freshman center fielder Gianni Royer had an RBI single that tied things up at 3-3, and after the Crusaders loaded up the bases, junior left fielder Connor Cooney hit a triple to make it a 6-3 game. 
• A solo home run by Harvard in the top of the fourth brought the Crimson within 6-4. 
• Aided by an error, Holy Cross scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend its lead to 8-4. 
• After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, King reached third base after a throwing error by the catcher and a stolen base. He was driven in by a single from Brown, who later scored on a passed ball. Royer was later hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to extend the Crusader lead to 11-4. 
• Harvard scored three runs in the top of the eighth to cut within 11-7. 
• The Crusaders piled on six runs in the bottom of the eighth — highlighted by a two-run double from sophomore right fielder Jack Toomey, and a sac fly by junior shortstop Jimmy King to secure the run-rule victory.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 

• Holy Cross drew 14 walks in the game, a season high. 
• Junior Chris Baillargeon has reached base in 17 consecutive contests.

DUE UP: 

• The Crusaders host Bucknell for a three-game Patriot League series on Saturday, March 30 and 31. 
• Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. 

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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