MIAMI – The Holy Cross baseball team fell by a 7-4 score to non-conference opponent FIU Friday evening in the opening game of a four game weekend set at the FIU Baseball Stadium.

The defeat sends the Crusaders to 0-4 on the year while the host Panthers improve to 4-1.

STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Senior Jaden Wywoda: (ND), 5.1 innings pitched, three hits allowed, three runs – two earned, two walks, three strikeouts
• Jeremy Urena: (ND), 4.2 innings pitched, six hits allowed, four runs – three earned, two walks, seven strikeouts

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Tyrus Riley: (W, 1-0) 2.1 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero earned runs, three walks, four strikeouts
• Bryce Turner: (S, 1), 2.0 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero earned runs, zero walks, two strikeouts
• Sophomore Jake Lenahan: (L, 0-1), 0.2 innings pitched, four hits allowed, four earned runs, one walk
• Freshman Brady MacCutcheon: 2.0 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero earned runs, one walk, two strikeouts

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Junior Braden Connors: 2-for-3, two runs scored, walk, stolen base
• Junior John LaFleur: 1-for-3, home run, two RBI, run scored, two walks
• Junior Gianni Royer: 1-for-4, triple, two RBI, walk
• Senior CJ Egrie: 1-for-5, run scored, stolen base
• Samuel Fischer: 2-for-3, home run, three RBI, two runs scored

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Egrie singled to second base and Connors slapped an opposite field single through the left side to put runners on in the bottom of the first. A double steal followed and the opening run came across via a Royer RBI groundout. LaFleur then pulled the first pitch he saw way over the right field fence for the 3-0 edge.
• In the bottom of the first Wywoda threw 28 pitches walking a pair of batters, but stranded them at first and second respectively.
• A hit-by-pitch, a walk with a double steal put a pair of runners at second and third with one down. The FIU pitcher punched out the next two hitters for the final outs of the top of the second.
• An infield single in the bottom of the fourth was the first hit of the game for the Panthers. A two out, two run homer pulled them within one at 3-2.
• Holy Cross added a run in the top of the fifth when Royer placed a ball in front of the left fielder and raced to third for an RBI triple and the 4-2 margin.
• With two runners on and one out, Wywoda induced an inning ending double play to junior Ryan Grundy at third who stepped on the bag and made a throw across the diamond to a stretching Connors at first.
• A five run bottom of the sixth catapulted the Panthers into the lead at 7-4.
• The Crusaders loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but could not cross the plate.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross continues its weekend set at FIU for a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 20.
• Sophomore right-handed pitcher Pedro Leon will take the mound for Holy Cross in game one. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

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