WORCESTER, Mass. – Trailing by one in the bottom of the eighth, the Holy Cross baseball team exploded for five runs getting a go-ahead two-run homer from senior designated hitter
Sean Scanlon for the 8-5 game two win over Patriot League foe Lafayette. Holy Cross took the opening seven inning game 4-3 on Friday evening at Fitton Field.
With the wins, the Crusaders (23-21, 14-7 PL) have clinched a spot in the 2025 Patriot League Tournament for the third time in four years. The setbacks send the Leopards to 12-31, 8-13 PL. Holy Cross has won 10 of their last 14 games.
Sophomore center fielder
Gianni Royer started off the rally by doubling to deep center field. Senior shortstop
Jimmy King singled through the left side to plate Royer to tie the game. Scanlon then demolished a 1-2 offering over the left field fence to give the Crusaders the lead for good.
In game one, Royer stole third base in the bottom of the first which was the 100th steal of the season for the Crusaders as a team. Holy Cross also hit two home runs in both contests making it their fifth and sixth games of the season with multi-home runs.
GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 4, LAFAYETTE 3 (7 INN.)
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Junior Danny Macchiarola: (W, 6-4), 6.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, three earned runs, two walks, six strikeouts.
- Joe Skapinetz: (L, 1-6), 4.1 innings pitched, six hits allowed, four earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts.
OUT OF THE BULLPEN:
- Senior Luke LeMond: (S, 3), 1.0 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero earned runs, two walks, one strikeout.
- Ben Waterman: 1.2 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero earned runs, two walks, one strikeout.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Senior Chris Baillargeon: 1-for-4, home run, two RBI, run scored.
- Senior Brendan Jones: 1-for-2, home run, RBI, run scored, walk.
- Junior CJ Egrie: 1-for-3, run scored, walk, stolen base.
- Gianni Royer: 1-for-2, walk, two stolen bases.
- Jack Mislan: 1-for-2, home run, two RBI, run scored.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holy Cross struck in the bottom of the first. Egrie pulled a leadoff double down the line. Sophomore left fielder John LaFleur was hit by a pitch and the Crusaders put on a double steal which allowed Egrie to score off a throwing error by the catcher. Baillargeon then went the opposite way for a two-run homer for the 3-0 Crusader lead.
- Lafayette came within one in the third via a two-run homer to centerfield.
- Jones tattooed a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth to add insurance to make it 4-2.
- The Leopards walked and earned a hit by pitch to put the opening two runners on in the fifth. Macchiarola got the next two outs, but allowed an opposite field RBI single then induced an inning ending groundout as the Crusaders led 4-3.
- Holy Cross loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with one out, but could not bring home any runners.
- With two outs in the seventh, the guests packed the bases full, but LeMond got a game ending groundout to second to end it.
GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 8, LAFAYETTE 5 (FINAL)
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Sophomore Thomas Skrobe: (ND), 4.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, one earned run, three walks, four strikeouts.
- Tristan Helmick: (ND), 6.1 innings pitched, five hits allowed, three runs – two earned three walks, seven strikeouts.
OUT OF THE BULLPEN:
- Freshman Jake Lenahan: (W, 3-2), 3.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, two earned runs, one walk, three strikeouts.
- Mike Romano: 1.0 innings pitched, six hits allowed, five earned runs, zero walks, two strikeouts.
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Sean Scanlon: 2-for-3, home run, two RBI, two runs scored, walk.
- Jimmy King: 2-for-4, two RBI, run scored.
- Chris Baillargeon: 2-for-4, run scored, walk.
- Senior Connor Peek: 1-for-3, home run, two RBI, run scored.
- CJ Egrie: 1-for-3, double, run scored, walk.
- Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, run scored, stolen base.
- Ethan Swidler: 2-for-5, double, two RBI, run scored.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lafayette struck first in the top of the first getting an RBI double to left center with one out.
- King leveled the contest in the bottom of the fourth singling through the drawn in infield making it 1-1.
- An RBI single to right center coupled with a sacrifice fly RBI regained the edge to the Lafayette side at 3-1 in the top of the fifth.
- Another RBI single for the Leopards added onto their lead making it 4-1 in the seventh.
- Peek manufactured a sacrifice fly in the seventh to trail 4-2. With the bases loaded LaFleur was hit by a pitch that plated another run making the deficit one run, 4-3. Lafayette made a pitching change in the middle of an at bat which paid off as they still led 4-3.
- In the eighth the senior duo of King and Scanlon moved Holy Cross back in front. Peek added insurance with a solo jack to right center and LaFleur singled down the right field line for the 8-4 margin.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
DUE UP:
- Holy Cross will conclude the weekend set on Sunday, April 27 and will host the Crusader Legends Jersey Retirement Game.
- First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
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