WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross baseball team clinched a spot in the 2026 Patriot League Tournament behind strong pitching performances shutting out Lehigh 9-0 in seven innings in game one before walking-off the Mountain Hawks 3-2 in game two during Senior Day and the 150th Anniversary celebration Saturday at the Ballpark at Fitton Field.
The wins snapped a seven game losing streak and moved the Crusaders to 18-24 overall and 12-10 in conference action. This is the third straight season that the Crusaders have made the conference tournament. Holy Cross has outscored Lehigh (13-28, 6-16 PL) 127-to-51 across their last 13 matchups and are 11-2 (.846) against Lehigh in that stretch.
Holy Cross baseball honored seniors
CJ Egrie,
Brock Graf and
Jaden Wywoda in a pregame ceremony.
Wywoda thrived in game one tossing his third career complete game shutout and second of 2026 scattering three hits, three walks while punching out a personal-best matching nine off a career-high 117 pitches. Against Lehigh in 2026, Wywoda has a pair of complete game shutouts (14 innings pitched), a 0.00 ERA, a 0.79 WHIP and 18 strikeouts.
Wywoda tied former teammate
Danny Macchiarola (196, 2023-2025) for third place on the career strikeout list, he needs four more strikeouts to become only the third pitcher program history with 200 or more career strikeouts (387 – Owen Carroll, 1922-1925, 229 – Nate Koneski, 2009-2012). Wywoda (21) also passed Ron Perry Sr. (20, 1952-1954) for fourth place on the program's career win list. He moved to fourth place on the career innings pitched (242.1) and games started (38) list as well.
Junior outfielder
Gianni Royer returned to the lineup starting both games and hit a home run with five RBI during game one. Sophomore right-handed pitcher
Jake Lenahan made his first collegiate start in game two hurling seven shutout frames striking out six. Junior catcher
Van Coughlin's walk-off squeeze sent the Crusaders to the postseason. It was the fifth late inning win for the Crusaders in 2026.
GAME ONE: HOLY CROSS 9, LEHIGH 0 – 7 INN.
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Jaden Wywoda: (W, 5-4), complete game, shutout, three hits allowed, zero runs, three walks, nine strikeouts, 117 pitches
- Sam Fairhurst: (L, 3-4), 5.0 innings pitched, six hits allowed, five runs, three walks, five strikeouts, 98 pitches
OUT OF THE BULLPEN:
- Noah Gyauch-Quirk: 0.1 innings pitched, zero hits allowed, four runs – zero earned, three walks, zero strikeouts, 32 pitches
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Royer: 2-for-3, home run, 5 RBI, run scored
- Junior Alex Sandell: 2-for-3, two runs scored, walk
- Egrie: 1-for-3, double, two runs scored, walk, stolen base
- Aidan Quinn: 1-for-2, walk
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Egrie pulled the first pitch he saw down the left field line for a double. He stole first base and scored on a wild pitch as the Crusaders led 1-0. Junior Ryan Grundy crossed the plate via a Royer RBI groundout to lead 2-0 after one.
- In the third, Royer singled through the left side, his second RBI of the game for the 3-0 edge.
- Wywoda struck out two in the fourth inning and stranded the bases loaded to keep his team ahead 3-0.
- Royer hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to up the score the 5-0 Crusaders.
- Holy Cross added three in the sixth, two off wild pitches and one when Grundy was hit by a pitch to lead 8-0. Royer lofted a sacrifice fly making it 9-0.
GAME TWO: HOLY CROSS 3, LEHIGH 2
STARTING ON THE MOUND:
- Jake Lenahan: (ND), 7.0 innings pitched, five hits allowed, zero runs, one walk, six strikeouts, 84 pitches
- Cole Leaman: (L, 1-5), complete game, five hits allowed, two runs, two walks, six strikeouts, 121 pitches
OUT OF THE BULLPEN:
- Junior Thomas Skrobe: (W, 2-1), 1.1 innings pitched, one hit allowed, one run, one walk, one strikeout, 13 pitches
STEPPING TO THE PLATE:
- Sophomore Nick Andersen: 2-for-4, home run, two RBI, run scored
- Sophomore Simon Landry: 2-for-4,
- Couhglin: 1-for-3, RBI
- Royer: 1-for-4 run scored
- Grundy: 1-for-4, double
- Egrie: 0-for-2, two walks, stolen base
- Trystan Crawford: 1-for-4, home run, RBI, run scored
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Royer posted the first hit for the Crusaders in the top of the fourth, a flared single to right center. Andersen broke the deadlock belting a two-run shot over the right center field fence putting the Crusaders into the lead at 2-0.
- Lenahan with Coughlin and Sandell combined for a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play to end the top of the fifth.
- Lehigh put runners at second and third with no outs in the top of the eighth and came within one via a sacrifice fly. Andersen, Grundy and Coughlin teamed up to gun down the potential tying run at the plate. Skrobe relieved Graf and got a one pitch fly out to end the frame.
- Lehigh tied the game in the top of the ninth with a solo home run to center field.
- Holy Cross got it going in the bottom of the ninth, Andersen and Landry singled with no outs. Freshman Macade Maxwell pinch ran for Andersen and advanced to third on freshman Liam Daly's fielder's choice. Coughlin laid down the squeeze to clinch the victory.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
DUE UP:
- Holy Cross goes for the series and season sweep of Lehigh on Sunday, April 26.
- Sophomore left-handed pitcher Derek Volz (1-2, 7.67 ERA) takes the mound for the Crusaders with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
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