BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Holy Cross baseball team scored a total of 25 runs on 30 hits across their first two Patriot League games picking up a seven inning 13-4 victory in game one before winning 12-1 in eight frames in game two at Lehigh Saturday afternoon on Walker Field at Legacy Park.
The victories move the Crusaders to 10-11 and 2-0 in the Patriot League while the Mountain Hawks fall to 10-9, 0-2 PL.
Holy Cross hit .429 as a team with a .540 on-base, .514 slugging percentage with eight stolen bases in the contests. The Crusader pitching staff struck out 15 batters and walked only four batters in both showdowns allowing only four earned runs.
Senior shortstop
Jimmy King was 6-for-9 (.667) with a double, five RBI, four runs scored, and a pair of steals on Saturday. Classmate, first baseman
Chris Baillargeon also was 6-for-9 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and four runs scored. Fellow senior, third baseman
Connor Peek was 4-for-6 (.667), with a double, five RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases.
On the mound, junior right-handed pitcher
Danny Macchiarola tossed his first collegiate complete game scattering six hits and three earned runs while punching out eight batters in game one. In game two, senior
Sean Scanlon hurled four innings of one run ball. He was relieved by freshman right-handed pitcher
Jake Lenahan who earned his first collegiate win pitching four scoreless innings working around a pair of walks to go with five strikeouts.
GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 13, LEHIGH 4 (7 INN.)
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Danny Macchiarola: W, (4-2), complete game, six hits allowed, four earned runs, zero walks, eight strikeouts.
- Cole Leaman: L, (0-1), 4.1 innings pitched, five hits allowed, five earned runs, five walks, five strikeouts.
OUT OF THE BULLPEN:
- Julio Ermigiotti: 2.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, five earned runs, two walks, strikeout.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Jimmy King: 3-for-4, three RBI, two runs scored, walk, stolen base.
- Senior Connor Peek: 2-for-3, three RBI, run scored, walk, two stolen bases.
- Chris Baillargeon: 2-for-4, double, two RBI, two runs scored.
- Sean Scanlon: 1-for-3, two runs scored, walk.
- Sophomore Gianni Royer: 1-for-4, two RBI, run scored, walk, stolen base.
- Freshman Nick Spaner: 1-for-4, two RBI.
- Owen Walewander: 1-for-3, home run RBI, run scored.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Royer legged out an infield single with two outs for the Crusaders' first run in the top of the first. Holy Cross loaded the bases and Royer came around to score on a wild pitch for the 2-0 edge early. Peek singled up the middle to bring in a pair to expand the margin to 4-0.
- Lehigh struck in the bottom of the second bashing an opposite field homer to trim the deficit to 4-1.
- The Mountain Hawks tallied three runs in the third to tie the game 4-4.
- In the fifth, a single and walk set the stage for King who singled through the left side to regain the lead for the Crusaders at 5-4.
- Baillargeon hit a clutch two out, two strike double to add an important insurance tally to the ledger in the top of the sixth moving the score to 6-4.
- Holy Cross tacked on seven runs in the seventh getting a squeeze bunt from Peek and King's third hit of the contest plating a pair to lead 13-4.
GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 12, LEHIGH 1 (8 INN.)
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Sean Scanlon: ND, 4.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, one earned run, two walks, two strikeouts.
- Marcus Danchision: L, (2-3), 3.0 innings pitched, nine hits allowed, six runs – three earned, one walk, four strikeouts.
OUT OF THE BULLPEN:
- Jake Lenahan: W, (1-0), 4.0 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts.
- Jake Mulvehill: 3.2 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, four earned runs, one walk, one strikeout.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Chris Baillargeon: 4-for-5, double, two runs scored.
- Jimmy King: 3-for-5, double, two RBI, two runs scored, stolen base.
- Sophomore John LaFleur: 3-for-4, double, two RBI, run scored, stolen base.
- Junior CJ Egrie: 3-for-6, double, RBI.
- Connor Peek: 2-for-3, double, two RBI, two runs scored, stolen base.
- Sean Scanlon: 2-for-3, three runs scored, two walks.
- Edwin Betances: 1-for-3, run scored.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holy Cross took the lead in the first via a fielding error to lead 2-0. A double steal with King taking home increased the margin to 3-0.
- The Crusaders loaded the bases in the second following three straight one out singles. King and LaFleur kept the line moving as back-to-back singles expanded the lead to 6-0.
- Scanlon stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the second keeping the Crusaders in the lead at 6-0.
- An RBI groundout resulted in the first run of the game for Lehigh in the fourth as they trailed 6-1. Scanlon got a fly out to leave two more runners in scoring position.
- Two runs in the fifth for Holy Cross, an RBI double by Peek and flare RBI single from Egrie added to the margin making it 8-1.
- King's fifth hit of the twinbill expanded the lead to 9-1.
- Three more runs in the late inning completed the run rule win.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
DUE UP:
- Holy Cross remains on the road to take on Lafayette (3-18, 0-2 PL) in a conference twibill on Sunday.
- First pitch is slated for noon.
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