LOWELL, Mass. – The Holy Cross baseball team was defeated 8-7 by nonconference opponent Massachusetts-Lowell Wednesday evening at LeLacheur Park.

The setback sends the Crusaders to 8-11 while the River Hawks improve to 6-12.

UMass-Lowell scored single runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth to complete the walk-off victory. Senior shortstop Jimmy King was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two walks for the Crusaders while second baseman, senior Brendan Jones reached base in his ninth straight game following a hit by pitch.

 STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Michael Simes: ND, (0-0), 3.1 innings pitched, one hit allowed, five runs - four earned, six walks, two strikeouts. 
• Freshman Derek Volz: ND, 0.1 innings pitched, three hits allowed, three earned runs, two walks.

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Brian Foley: W, (2-0), 1.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed.
• Kevin Zarnoch Jr.: 1.1 innings pitched, one hit allowed, one walk, three strikeouts. 
• Sophomore Nick Harnisch: L, (1-1), 0.2 innings pitched, two hits allowed, one earned run.
• Sophomore Colin Dowdle: 2.0 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, one walk, three strikeouts. 

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Jake Fitzgibbons: 3-for-5, two RBI, run scored.
• Alex Luccini: 2-for-3, two runs scored, RBI, walk, stolen base.
• Rowan Masse: 2-for-3, double, two RBI, two walks, run scored, stolen base.
• Jimmy King: 2-for-3, two RBI, two walks, stolen base.
• Senior Connor Cooney: 1-for-3, RBI, run scored, two walks, stolen base.
• Senior Sean Scanlon: 1-for-3, RBI, run scored, walk.
• Senior Chris Baillargeon: 1-for-4, double, walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• With two outs in the first, King legged out an infield single to third base to plate the first run and give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead
• In the bottom of the first, the River Hawks loaded the bases and tied the game on an infield single with one down. They took the lead with a single up the middle. A hit by pitch grew the lead to 3-1.
• Two runs in the third off RBI singles expanded the edge to 5-1 for the hosts.
• A four run fourth frame tied the game for Holy Cross as they got runs off a walk, passed ball, wild pitch, and RBI groundout.
• King walked on a full count with the bases loaded and two outs to give the Crusaders the 6-5 advantage in the sixth. Cooney worked a full count free pass to bring in another Holy Cross tally.
• Following a pitching change, UMass-Lowell trimmed the deficit to one, 7-6 via an RBI double in the seventh.
• In the eighth, the hosts tied the game on a flare single with two down. 
• During the ninth, a lead off two-bagger and a sacrifice bunt moved the go ahead run to third base with one out. A walk-off single won the game for the River Hawks. 

DUE UP:

• The Crusaders open Patriot League play on Saturday, March 22 at Lehigh (10-6).
• First pitch for the conference doubleheader is noon and the contest will stream on ESPN+.

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