TOWSON, Md. – Junior right-handed pitcher Danny Macchiarola tossed six and two thirds quality innings while senior Chris Baillargeon was 3-for-3 at the dish as the Holy Cross baseball team picked up a 5-1 win versus nonconference foe Towson Saturday afternoon at John B. Schuerholz Park.

The win sends the Crusaders to 3-4 early in the season while the Tigers fall to 3-5.

Macchiarola posted his first double-digit strikeout game of the season and third of his career. All three have come over his last six starts dating back to 2024. The 10 punch outs were his second most during a game in his collegiate career. He also retired nine straight batters spanning the bottom of the first to the bottom of the fourth inning.

Baillargeon reached base in all four plate appearances on the afternoon and it was his fifth three hit game of his career. The Crusader first baseman has started to heat up over his last two contests going 5-for-7 (.714) with a double, two RBI, three runs scored and a walk.

As a team, the Crusaders stole five bases in a game for the second straight contest.

Game two of Saturday's doubleheader was suspended in the top of the 11th inning with the score tied 5-5 due to lack of daylight. The continuation of the game will take place Monday, March 3 at noon. Sunday, March 2 contest has been moved to Monday, March 3 and will begin following the conclusion of the suspended game.

STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Junior Danny Macchiarola: W, (1-2), 6.2 innings pitched, three hits allowed, one earned run, two walks, 10 strikeouts.
• Max Simpson: L, (1-2), 6.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, earned run, walk, five strikeouts.

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Freshman Pedro Leon: S, (2), 2.1 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two walks, three strikeouts.
• Matt Leikus: 1.2 innings pitched, two hits allowed, four runs – one earned, two walks.
• Jace Cunnane: 1.1 innings pitched, hit allowed, walk, strikeout.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Chris Baillargeon: 3-for-3, RBI, walk, run scored.
• Sophomore Alex Sandell: 1-for-3, RBI, two runs scored, walk, two stolen bases.
• Senior Jimmy King: 1-for-4, stolen base.
• Sophomore Colin Brown: 1-for-4, RBI.
• Junior CJ Egrie: 0-for-4, two stolen bases, run scored.
• Brian Heckelman: 1-for-3, RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Macchiarola worked around a one out double in the bottom of the first to strike out the side.
• His streak of nine straight batters retired was thwarted in the fourth after a one out single. He snared a liner up the middle to strand a runner at second.
• In the sixth, Egrie was hit by a pitch and stole second and third base. On a 2-2 count, Baillargeon went to the opposite field for a single and a 1-0 Crusader lead.
• Macchiarola walked a batter with two away in the sixth. The runner advanced to second on a wild pitch, but he sent down the last batter swinging to end the frame.
• Towson relieved their starter and he threw eight straight balls to put runners at first and second with no outs. A wild pitch advanced the runners 90 feet into scoring position. An RBI ground out from senior Connor Cooney added insurance making it 2-0.
• Towson earned a run back in the seventh via a two out, RBI single on a full count. Leon came in and got the final out.
• Holy Cross tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth as a wild pitch, a Sandell and Brown RBI single expanded the lead to 5-1.
• Towson packed the bases full in the ninth with two away. Leon stuck out the final batter to secure the save.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross wraps up their weekend set against Towson on Sunday, March 2.
• First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

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