WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross baseball team had two chances in the late innings but came up short dropping a mid-week nonconference contest to Merrimack 4-2 Tuesday evening on Fitton Field.

The loss sends the Crusaders to 13-16 on the campaign while the Warriors improve to 9-18-1.

Holy Cross put a pair of runners on with one down in the eighth and no outs in the ninth, but grounded into inning ending double plays to thwart the scoring chances. Sophomore first baseman Ryan Grundy reached base in all four of his plate appearances going 1-for-1 with a run scored and three walks.

Merrimack broke the Crusaders 20 inning scoreless streak scoring two runs in the top of the fifth.

STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Luke Linnehan: (ND), 4.1 innings pitched, four hits allowed, two earned runs, three walks, two strikeouts.
• Sophomore Thomas Skrobe: (ND), 1.0 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero runs, one walk, two strikeouts.

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Flynn Howard: (W, 1-1), 2.2 innings pitched, one hit allowed, zero runs, three walks, two strikeouts.
• Cole Yennaco: (S, 2), 1.2 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero runs, one walk, one strikeout.
• Freshman Pedro Leon: 3.0 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero runs, one walk, three strikeouts.
• Senior Augie Walters: (L, 0-2), 0.1 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two earned runs, two walks, zero strikeouts.

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Brooks Craig: 1-for-5, two RBI.
• Hayden Bond: 1-for-2, run scored, stolen base.
• Ryan Grundy: 1-for-1, run scored, three walks.
• Sophomore Gianni Royer: 1-for-4, RBI, walk, stolen base.
• Senior Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, double, run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Making his first collegiate start at third base, freshman Simon Landry lofted a sacrifice fly to score Jones which gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead in the home half of the second.
• Two runs from Merrimack off a Crusader fielding error in the top of the fifth pushed them ahead.
• Holy Cross loaded the bases and tied the score in the bottom of the fifth when Royer worked a four pitch walk.
• Senior Connor Cooney made a diving catch in left field to keep the game tied with runners in scoring position and two outs in the top of the sixth.
• Merrimack loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with one down and singled up the middle to score a pair which ended up being the game winning runs.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross hosts Patriot League opponent Army (11-15, 6-5 PL) this weekend for a four game set beginning on Friday, April 4.
• First pitch for game one of the series is at 5 p.m.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
 Be sure to follow the Holy Cross baseball team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
 X - @HCrossBaseball | @goholycross
 Instagram - @hcrossbaseball | @goholycross
 Facebook - Holy Cross Baseball | Holy Cross Athletics
 YouTube - GoHolyCross