LEXINGTON, Va. – Holy Cross baseball senior shortstop Jimmy King and sophomore outfielder John LaFleur had big games as the Crusaders opened up game one of a four game weekend set at nonconference foe VMI Friday afternoon on Lamore Field at Gray-Minor Stadium.

Holy Cross fell by a 21-9 score in seven innings. The loss sends the Crusaders to 5-7 overall while the Keydets improve to 11-1.

King was 4-for-5 with a double and three RBI in the game. It was the second 4+ hit game of his career. LaFleur was 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and a run scored. He is 10-of-23 (.438) on the spring break trip with a pair of home runs and 11 RBI.

Junior outfielder CJ Egrie reached base via a hit by pitch. It was the 12th straight game the Crusader lead-off hitter has reached base and 21st straight contest dating back to May 7, 2023.

STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Senior Sean Scanlon: ND, 2.1 innings pitched, three hits allowed, five earned runs, five walks, strikeout.
• Andrew Jones: ND, 1.2 innings pitched, four hits allowed, six earned runs, three walks, two strikeouts.

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Marcus Van Alstine: W, (2-0), 3.2 innings pitched, four hits allowed, zero earned runs, one walk, three strikeouts.
• Peyton Dhein: 1.2 innings pitched, five hits allowed, three earned runs, four walks, three strikeouts.
• Senior Luke LeMond: L, (0-1), 1.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, five earned runs, four walks, one strikeout.
• Freshman Pedro Leon: 0.2 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two earned runs, three walks, strikeout.
• Senior Augie Walters: 1.1 innings pitched, four hits allowed, three earned runs, three walks, strikeout.
• Freshman Devin Hunt: 0.2 innings pitched, two hits allowed, six earned runs, three walks, strikeout.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Jimmy King: 4-for-5, double, three RBI, run scored.
• John LaFleur: 2-for-5, home run, four RBI, run scored.
• Senior Chris Baillargeon: 2-for-4, double, RBI, two runs scored.
• Senior Brendan Jones: 2-for-4.
• Sophomore Braden Connors: 2-for-3, two walks.
• Sophomore Gianni Royer: 1-for-3, two runs scored, two walks.
• Sean Scanlon: 0-for-2, two runs scored, three walks.
• Boston Torres: 3-for-4, home run, double, eight RBI, three runs scored, walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Baillargeon drove a double deep off the center field fence to score a run. Holy Cross packed the bases full and King lined a two-out single to center to score a pair making it a 3-0 game early.
• In the second, LaFleur homered on a 3-2 offering with two outs to double the lead 6-0. King again singled to center to build the margin to 7-0.
• LaFleur notched his fourth RBI of the contest, singling through the right side, expanding the Crusader lead to 8-0.
• VMI pulled a solo homer over the left field fence to trail 8-1. They added four more runs on a double to right center field and a two-run home run to trail 8-5.
• A fielding error added insurance for the Crusaders in the fourth making it 9-5.
• Seven runs by the hosts in the home half of the fourth pushed them ahead 12-9.
• From there VMI added nine runs to complete seven inning win.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross hits the field for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 8 against VMI. 
• First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and the contests will stream live on ESPN+.

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