AUBURN, Ala. – Behind five innings of relief from freshmen pitchers, the Holy Cross baseball team upset No. 22 nationally-ranked Auburn 4-2 on Saturday evening at Plainsman Park.
The win sends the Crusaders to 1-1 on the season while the host Tigers slide to 1-1.
Senior two-way player
Sean Scanlon made his
debut on the mound following a season-ending injury last season and hurled four innings in his first start of 2025. The Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year lofted a clutch sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth for an important insurance run.
Freshman
Derek Volz relieved Scanlon and threw 3.1 innings of one run ball striking out four scattering two hits and a run for his first collegiate win. Classmate
Pedro Leon came on and collected a save hurling 1.2 scoreless frames with two punch outs. Leon froze Auburn's Bristol Carter with an off speed pitch to end the game. Volz struck out Ike Irish, MLB.com's No. 18 ranked draft prospect swinging for his first career strikeout in the bottom of the fifth.
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Senior Sean Scanlon: ND, 4.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, one earned run, two walks.
- Samuel Dutton: ND, 4.1 innings pitched, five hits allowed, three runs – one earned, three walks, seven strikeouts.
OUT OF THE BULLPEN:
- Derek Volz: W, (1-0), 3.1 innings pitched two hits allowed, one earned run, walk, four strikeouts.
- Pedro Leon: S, (1), 1.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, two strikeouts.
- John Armstrong: 0.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed.
- Jackson Sanders: 2.0 innings pitched, two walks, two strikeouts.
- Parker Carlson: 1.0 innings pitched, one walk, one strikeout.
- Hayden Murphy: 1.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, one earned run, walk, strikeout.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Junior CJ Egrie: 2-for-5, double, triple, run scored.
- Senior Chris Baillargeon: 2-for-5, RBI, run scored.
- Sophomore Van Coughlin: 1-for-3, RBI.
- Senior Connor Cooney: 1-for-3, run scored, walk.
- Bristol Carter: 2-for-4, three stolen bases, two runs scored, walk.
- Cooper McMurray: 1-for-3, double, RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Auburn opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice RBI to left center field for the 1-0 lead.
- In the top of the second, Cooney singled through the right side. A fielding error and a walk to senior Brendan Jones loaded the bases for the Crusaders. Coughlin lined a sacrifice fly the opposite way to tie the game at 1-1.
- A single from Baillargeon and sophomore Gianni Royer had runners at the corners with one out. Senior Jimmy King lofted a first pitch sacrifice fly to left field for the Crusaders' first lead of the series 2-1 in the top of the third.
- In the bottom of the fourth, a lead off double and balk moved a runner to third with no outs. With one away, a walk and steal put another base runner at second. Scanlon induced a foul popup and a high chopping grounder to sophomore Ryan Grundy third base to keep his squad ahead 2-1.
- Holy Cross tacked on a run in the top of the fifth when Baillargeon singled to center to plate Egrie who reached via triple.
- Volz came on in relief and punched out Auburn's Ike Irish swinging for his first collegiate strikeout. The Tigers scored a run in the frame to trim the deficit to 3-2.
- Holy Cross stranded runners at the corners with no outs in the top of the sixth.
- In the eighth, back-to-back walks had a pair of runners on with no outs for Holy Cross. Auburn tallied three straight outs to end the threat.
- Leon relieved Volz in the eighth and got the final two outs leaving the tying run at third thanks to a leaping grab by Grundy at third.
- Scanlon pulled a deep fly to right field for an insurance run in the ninth.
- Leon struck out the final two batters of the game to clinch the contest.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
DUE UP:
- The Crusaders look to take the series against Auburn on Sunday, Feb. 16.
- First pitch is set for 2 p.m. EST.
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