AUBURN, Ala. – After a Saturday night victory, the Holy Cross baseball team looked to take the series on Sunday against No. 22 nationally-ranked Auburn, but the Crusaders fell by a 14-6 score at Plainsman Park.

The setback sends the Crusaders to 1-2 on the season while the Tigers improve to 2-1.

STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Junior Jaden Wywoda: ND, 4.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed three runs – one earned four strikeouts.
• Christian Chatterton: ND, 5.1 innings pitched, six hits allowed, four earned runs, five strikeouts.

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Dylan Watts: W, (1-0), 1.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, two earned runs, three walks, two strikeouts.
• Alex Petrovic: 1.2 innings pitched, one walk, strikeout.
• Griffin Graves: 1.0 innings pitched.
• Junior Brock Graf: 0.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, one earned run, one walk.
• Freshman Devin Hunt: 0.0 innings pitched, two walks.
• Sophomore Andrew Nesson: L, (0-1), 1.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, four earned runs, one walk, strikeout.
• Sophomore Nick Harnisch: 0.1 innings pitched, two hits allowed, earned run, walk.
• Freshman Marco Citro: 1.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, three earned runs.
• Sophomore Dan Mateffy: 0.2 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two earned runs, walk.
• Sophomore Colin Dowdle: 0.1 innings pitched, one walk.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Cade Belyeu: 3-for-5, four runs scored, RBI.
• Chase Fralick: 3-for-5, home run, two RBI, run scored.
• Cooper McMurray: 2-for-3, double, home run, four RBI, two runs scored, two walks.
• Sophomore Gianni Royer: 2-for-4, home run, two RBI, two runs scored.
• Senior Jimmy King: 1-for-3, double, two RBI, walk.
• Sophomore Alex Sandell: 1-for-3, double, RBI, run scored, walk.
• Junior CJ Egrie: 1-for-4 double.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Auburn got on the board in the bottom of the first singling through the right side for the early 1-0 lead.
• The hosts used an RBI double for another run in the second. Sophomore Braden Connors gunned down a runner at third base attempting to steal to end the inning.
• Sophomore John LaFleur singled to open up the top of the third. He eventually scored when Sandell placed a double deep down the left field line just inside the chalk to trim the deficit to 2-1.
• In the fourth with one out, Royer smoked the first pitch he saw over the left center field fence to level the score at 2-2.
• Following an overturned caught stealing, the Tigers were granted new life and capitalized with an RBI single down the right field line for the 3-2 edge.
• A bases loaded walk added an insurance run to the Auburn ledger making it 4-2 through five.
• King chased the Auburn starter from the game in the top of the sixth via a double down the left field line to tie the game 4-4.
• Auburn sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth and regained the lead belting a solo and three-run homer to lead 9-4.
• Holy Cross plated a pair in the seventh with a senior Chris Baillargeon single and Royer sacrifice fly. They stranded the bases loaded to trail 9-6.
• The hosts manufactured five runs over the remainder of the game for the win.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross is back in action on Friday, Feb. 21 at George Washington (0-2).
• First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.

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