ANDOVER, Mass. — The Holy Cross baseball team fell to Merrimack, 8-4, in non-conference action on Tuesday, April 2. 

STATS LEADERS: 
Holy Cross (12-16)
Royer (3-for-5, double, home run, two RBI, two runs scored)
Sandell (1-for-2, RBI)
Casserly (double)
Nesson (1.1 IP, no hits, no runs, two strikeouts)

Merrimack (9-17)
Dolbashian (3-for-4, home run, three RBI)
Gemelli (2-for-4, home run, two runs scored)
Bond (home run)

THE DECISION:
W: Barker (1-1)
L: Mateffy (1-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Crusaders fell behind early, 2-0, after Merrimack had a leadoff homer and later had a runner score on an error in the first inning. 
• Freshman center fielder Gianni Royer doubled to lead off the second, and later came around to score to make it a 2-1 game. 
• A two-out single scored another run for the Warriors, extending their lead to 3-1 in the third inning. They then hit a pair of solo home runs in the third to make it a 5-1 game.
• Holy Cross got a run back after Royer hit a solo homer in the top of the fourth. 
• The Merrimack lead grew as high as 8-2 after a three-run seventh.
• Holy Cross got a pair of runs in the ninth after back-to-back RBI singles from freshman second baseman Alex Sandell and Royer, but the Crusaders could not rally further. 

DUE UP: 

• The Crusaders head to Army West Point for a four-game Patriot League slate beginning on Friday, April 5. 

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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