The baseball team fell short on Saturday as it was defeated by the Holy Cross Crusaders, 8-7, at Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass, dropping the Bobcats’ record to 0-11.
The Bobcats trailed by one run heading into the ninth inning, but three quick outs kept the team winless in its season-opening out-of-conference games.
Bobcat junior shortstop Mickey Amanti scored the game’s first run after Crusaders’ pitcher Bobby Holmes walked three straight. Sophomore first baseman Gabe Guerino drove in two more runs on a single down the line and the Bobcats would up with five runs. But starting pitcher Todd DeFrancesco couldn’t hold the lead.
Crusader leadoff hitter Brendan McCrea launched a home run and right fielder Jack Laurendeau gave Holy Cross a 7-4 lead with a grand slam.
DeFrancesco allowed another leadoff homer in the third inning, which separated the two teams after the Bobcats rallied for three runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore catcher Kyle Nisson’s two-run double brought in Joe Poletsky and Brian Monack. Jeff Carino grounded out to second base scored Guerino from third.
Holy Cross hurler John Pedrotty kept the Bobcats in check until the middle of the eighth inning when Ryan George replaced him. George struck out Amanti to end the threat, and then rung up two more in the ninth to seal the deal.
