Baseball Defeated By Quinnipiac, 7-3 :: Crusaders set to host Connecticut on March 25 at 3:00 p.m.

March 22, 2008

WORCESTER, Mass. - The Holy Cross baseball team dropped a 7-3 decision to Quinnipiac today in non-conference action at Fitton Field. The Crusaders fall to 4-11 on the season while the Bobcats improve to 3-8 overall.

Quinnipiac broke free of the first two scoreless innings as Ben Farina hit a double and scored on a two-run homer by John Delaney. The Bobcats put up another run in the top of the fourth as Mike Marmo drove in Blake Barone from second after hitting a lead-off double.

Holy Cross got into some trouble in the top of the sixth as Quinnipiac scored two more runs during sophomore Chris Blanchard's (Norwich, Conn.) relief efforts as he walked in a run and gave up a run on a wild pitch. The Crusaders finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Eric Oxford (Danvers, Mass.) drove in freshman Brendan McCrea (Hicksville, N.Y.) from third.

The Crusaders' Steve Soldi (Clinton, Mass.) took advantage of two men on at first and third, scoring sophomore John Sills (Milton, Mass.) on a single. A solo home run by senior Kyle Lister (Lincoln, R.I.) in the bottom of the eighth brought Holy Cross within two of the Bobcats, 5-3.

The Bobcats secured its victory in the top of the ninth; scoring two more runs for a 7-3 win over Holy Cross.

Andy Mayer picked up the win for Quinnipiac, improving to 2-1 on the season while senior Mike Thater (Danbury, Conn.) received the loss for Holy Cross, dropping to 0-2.

The Crusaders return to action on Tuesday, March 25, as they host Connecticut at 3:00 p.m.