AUBURN, Ala. – The Holy Cross baseball team began their 2025 season with a tough task taking on No. 22 nationally-ranked Auburn. The Crusaders fell to the host Tigers 4-1 Friday evening in Plainsman Park.

The loss sends the Crusaders to 0-1 on the year while the Tigers move to 1-0.

STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Junior Danny Macchiarola: L, (0-1), 5.0 innings pitched, five hits allowed, two earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts.
• Cade Fisher: ND, 3.1 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, earned run allowed, two walks, five strikeouts.

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Sophomore Nick Harnisch: 1.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, one earned run, one strikeout.
• Senior Luke LeMond: 2.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, one earned run, one strikeout.
• Cam Tilly: W, (1-0), 2.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, zero runs allowed, two strikeouts.
• Carson Myers: S, (1), 3.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, three strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Sophomore Gianni Royer: 1-for-3, run scored, walk.
• Senior Jimmy King: 1-for-4 double, RBI.
• Junior CJ Egrie: 0-for-1, two walks, stolen base, hit by pitch.
• Cade Belyeu: 2-for-4, home run, RBI, two runs scored.
• Eric Snow: 2-for-4, double, two RBI, two runs scored.
• Deric Fabian: 2-for-4 triple, RBI, run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Auburn put two in scoring position with two down in the home half of the first. Macchiarola notched his first strikeout of the season to strand the runners at second and third.
• A pair of singles and stolen bases by the hosts put runners at second and third with no outs. Following a strikeout, a two-RBI double to left put the Tigers on the board for the 2-0 lead.
• With two away in the top of the third, Egrie worked a walk and stole second base and eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch. He was left 90 feet away as Auburn retired the side.
• In the fourth, the Crusaders cut the deficit to one when King went the opposite way for an RBI double with one out putting his team down 2-1.
• Macchiarola tight roped out of danger in the fifth inducing a two out lineout to left leaving a pair of insurance runs in scoring position.
• The first batter of the bottom of the sixth for Auburn hit a solo home run for the 3-1 edge. They added an insurance run in the eighth for the 4-1 margin.

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders return to the field on Saturday, Feb. 15 against No. 22 Auburn.
• First pitch is set for 7 p.m. EST.

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