WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross baseball team was defeated twice by Patriot League foe Navy falling 3-2 during a seven inning game one before falling 10-4 in game two Friday evening at the Ballpark at Fitton Field.
The Crusaders slide to 16-21, 10-8 PL and to fourth place in the Patriot League standings. The Midshipmen (24-14, 11-7) win its six straight league contest and climb to second place in the conference rankings.
In game one, senior right-handed pitcher
Jaden Wywoda moved to fourth place on the program's all-time strikeout list with his five punchout performance. Over his four year career, Wywoda has struck out 187 batters and needs 13 more to become only the third player in program history to reach 200 career strikeouts. He also climbed to fifth place on the program's career innings pitched list (235.1).
During game two, junior first baseman
Ryan Grundy hit his third home run of the season in a 2-for-4 three RBI effort.
GAME ONE: NAVY 3, HOLY CROSS 2 – 7 INN.
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Brady Bendik (W, 5-3), complete game, six hits allowed, two runs – one earned, three walks, five strikeouts, 127 pitches
- Jaden Wywoda: (L, 4-4), complete game, five hits allowed, three runs, two walks, five strikeouts, 82 pitches
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holy Cross loaded the bases in the bottom of the first but couldn't cross the plate.
- Navy hit a two strike two out home run to lead 2-0 in the top of the second.
- Connors gave the ball a ride in the bottom of the fourth that was caught right at the wall in right field. A Brown hit-by-pitch, a Maxwell single and a freshman Owen Stelzer walk loaded the bases. Bendik balked home a run as the Crusaders came within one, 2-1. A groundout ended the scoring threat.
- An RBI single from Navy in the sixth resulted in an important insurance run as they led 3-1.
- Holy Cross threatened in the sixth, but couldn't cross the plate.
- A single from Sandell and a two base error from Navy put him on third with one down in the bottom of the seventh. Grundy wore a pitch and advanced to third on Connors' RBI single to plate Sandell. Holy Cross flew out to end the game.
GAME TWO: NAVY 10, HOLY CROSS 4
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Tyler Grenn: (W, 2-3), 6.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, three runs – two earned, zero walks, seven strikeouts, 93 pitches
- Sophomore Pedro Leon: (L, 0-5), 2.2 innings pitched, six hits allowed, four runs – three earned, one walk, five strikeouts, 71 pitches
OUT OF THE BULLPEN:
- Jackson Clark: (S, 2), 3.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, one run, three walks, five strikeouts, 55 pitches
- Sophomore Jake Lenahan: 4.1 innings pitched, five hits allowed, five runs – three earned, zero walks, three strikeouts, 72 pitches
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Grundy: 2-for-4, home run, three RBI, run scored
- Sandell: 1-for-2, run scored
- Senior CJ Egrie: 1-for-4, run scored
- Tyler Cripe: 3-for-4, home run, two RBI, two runs scored, stolen base, walk
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Navy's lead off hitter drilled a 3-2 offering over the fence in the top of the first for the 1-0 lead. An RBI single added onto their lead making it 2-0.
- Grundy pulled a homer down the right field line to tie the score 2-2 in the bottom of the first.
- An infield single resulted in a Navy runner scoring from second for the 3-2 margin.
- A double down the left field line expanded the lead to 4-2 in the top of the third.
- A throwing error by Holy Cross with two outs in the sixth resulted in a pair of two out runs as Navy led 6-2.
- Egrie singled in the sixth and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Simon Landry as Holy Cross trailed 6-3.
- Three more runs in the seventh expanded the Navy margin to 9-3. A bases loaded RBI walk upped the score to 10-3 in the ninth.
- Holy Cross mounted a late comeback and got a Grundy RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
DUE UP:
- Holy Cross is back in action for a 7/9 inning twinbill on Saturday, April 18.
- Sophomore right-handed pitcher Brett Mulligan (1-1, 7.91 ERA) takes the mound for the Crusaders in game one. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
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