WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross baseball team began a three game set with Patriot league foe Lafayette and dropped a 9-3 decision in its home opener Friday evening at the Ballpark at Fitton Field.

The loss sends the Crusaders to 9-14 overall and 5-2 in the Patriot League while the Leopards move to 3-17, 1-6 PL.

Senior outfielder CJ Egrie recorded his second straight game with 4+ stolen bases as he finished the game 3-for-4 with four thefts. Egrie, the program's all-time leading base stealer has gone a perfect 20-for-20 on steals in 2026.

STARTING ON THE MOUND:

• Tristan Helmick: (W, 2-3), 7.1 innings pitched, eight hits allowed, three runs allowed, one walk, eight strikeouts, 116 pitches
• Senior Jaden Wywoda: (L, 3-1), 6.0 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, five runs, one walk, three strikeouts, 84 pitches

OUT OF THE BULLPEN:

• Owen Basso: 1.2 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero runs allowed, one walk, three strikeouts

STEPPING TO THE PLATE:

• Egrie: 3-for-4, four stolen bases
• Junior Ryan Grundy: 2-for-3, double, walk, RBI
• Junior Gianni Royer: 1-for-4, RBI, run scored
• Liam Ebbs: 2-for-4, home run, four RBI, two runs scored

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Three hits in the top of the third resulted in a sacrifice fly RBI for Lafayette to lead 1-0.
• Egrie singled to the opposite field in the third and stole a pair of bags to move up to third on a full count. The Leopards got its fifth strikeout of the game to end the scoring threat.
• Lafayette had some two out hitting to double its edge to 2-0 in the fifth via an RBI single to left.
• Egrie led off the sixth and had an infield single. He stole second and third base for his third and fourth steal of the showdown. Grundy smoked an RBI double to put the Crusaders down one, 2-1 through six.
• A five spot for Lafayette in the seventh gave them a 7-1 edge.
• Royer posted an infield single with one down in the eighth and junior Van Coughlin reached via fielder's choice to make it 7-3 after eight.
• Lafayette connected on a homer and an RBI double to add insurance.

DUE UP:

• Holy Cross plays a doubleheader against Lafayette on Sunday, March 29.
• Sophomores Derek Volz (1-1, 10.19 ERA) and Pedro Leon (0-3, 8.24 ERA) will take the hill for the Crusaders with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

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