SEATTLE – Trailing 10-4 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Holy Cross baseball team rallied to knot the score before losing in 10 innings, 11-10 to Seattle Saturday at Bannerwood Park.

Following two strikeouts to start the ninth for the Crusaders (2-7), junior first baseman Braden Connors was plunked. Junior center fielder Gianni Royer hit a 1-0 single followed by junior designated hitter John LaFleur wearing a 2-2 offering. With the bases juiced, junior catcher Van Coughlin blooped a single to right plating a pair making it 10-6.

Following a pitching change from Seatle (2-8), junior second baseman Alex Sandell walked on five pitches. Facing a 1-2 count, sophomore third baseman Simon Landry singled through the left side putting the Crusaders down 10-9. Also down to his last strike, sophomore right fielder Nick Andersen smoked a ground rule double to center to tie the game 10-10. The hosts walked-off the Crusaders in the 10th for the win.

STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Sophomore Pedro Leon: (L, 0-2), 2.2 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, five runs – four earned, one walk, two strikeouts
• Kale Hammer: (ND), 4.1 innings pitched, four hits allowed, four runs, one walk, four strikeouts

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Ryan Stone: (W, 1-0), 1.1 innings pitched, three hits allowed, one earned run, one walk, two strikeouts
• Sophomore Jake Lenahan: (L, 0-3), 1.1 innings pitched, two hits allowed, one earned run, zero walks, one strikeout

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Royer: 3-for-6, home run, double, two RBI, two runs scored
• Connors: 1-for-3, RBI, three runs scored, walk
• Landry: 2-for-5, two RBI
• Andersen: 2-for-5, two doubles, RBI, run scored
• Brandon Stinnett: 2-for-5, three RBI, run scored

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A fielder's choice in the top of the first gave the Crusaders their first lead at 1-0.
• A bloop single from SeattleU tied the game with one away in the bottom of the first. Landry made a nifty play at third base charging in and throwing on the run to get the runner at first to end the frame.
• Seattle took the lead in the bottom of the second off an error. A wild pitch resulted in another run crossing the plate combined with an RBI single up the middle.
• Soft contact in the third tacked on another run and chased Leon from the game in the third.
• In the fifth, Andersen slapped an opposite field double down the left field line and was driven home by Connors, RBI single. Royer cleared the bases with his first homer of the year making it 5-4 in the fifth.
• Seattle added insurance in the sixth and seventh for the 10-4 edge before the Crusaders comeback bid.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross continues its weekend set at Seattle on Sunday, March 1.
• Junior right-handed pitcher Thomas Skrobe (0-0, 12.00 ERA) will take the mound for Holy Cross in game three. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. est.

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