ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The No. 3-seeded Holy Cross baseball team overcame an early deficit to earn a 10-5 victory over No. 2 Navy on Saturday, May 11 in the first game of the semifinal round of the Patriot League Championship. 

After Navy (26-21) managed to score five runs in the opening frame, senior starter Alex Bryant and freshman relief pitcher Nick Harnisch threw eight shutout innings to close out the game as the Crusader offense rallied, scoring 10 unanswered runs, to secure the victory. 

Holy Cross (26-25) takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. 

STATS LEADERS: 
Holy Cross
Toomey (2-for-4, home run, three RBI, two runs scored)
Coughlin (2-for-4, three RBI, two runs scored)
Sandell (3-for-4, double, RBI, run scored)
Harnisch (S, 2.2 IP, one hit, no runs, no walks, strikeout)

Navy 
Manning (3-for-4, RBI, run scored)
Fiallo (triple, three RBI)
Killelea (2-for-2, double, run scored)

THE DECISION:
W: A. Bryant (5-3) 
L: Grenn (6-4) 
S: Harnisch (3)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Midshipmen put up five runs in the first, punctuated by a bases-clearing triple from left fielder Anthony Fiallo, to take a commanding lead early. 
• Freshman catcher Van Coughlin cut into the lead in the top of the second with a two-run single to left. 
• Sophomore right fielder Jack Toomey launched a two-run homer over the left-field wall to bring the Crusaders within 5-4 in the top of the third. 
• A bunt single from Coughlin evened up the score at 5-5 in the fourth before a sacrifice fly and balk pushed the Crusaders ahead, 7-5. 
• Freshman second baseman Alex Sandell used an RBI double to tack on another run in the sixth. 
• Bryant lasted 6.1 innings — and 130 pitches — before leaving in the seventh with the bases loaded. Harnisch came on in relief, drawing a double-play ball that was turned masterfully by junior shortstop Jimmy King to junior first baseman Chris Baillargeon. 
• A wild pitch and RBI single tacked on two more insurance runs for Holy Cross in the top of the eighth. 
• Harnisch pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and stranded a runner at second in the ninth to shut down the Midshipmen. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 

• Toomey now ranks third in single-season program history with nine home runs this year and seventh in career program history (16). 

DUE UP: 

• Holy Cross and Navy continue the best-of-three series on Sunday, May 12. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. 

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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