March 28, 2015

1 Game 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E Holy Cross 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 Lafayette 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 Box Score (HTML)|Box Score (PDF) 0

1 Game 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Holy Cross 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 7 0 Lafayette 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 Box Score (HTML)|Box Score (PDF) 0

EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette and Holy Cross treated fans to a pair of pitcher's duels on Saturday at Kamine Stadium, with the visitors claiming both ends of the Patriot League doubleheader by identical scores of 1-0.

The most dominant performance of the day came from Holy Cross' Ben White in game two, as the right-hander threw a complete-game three-hitter with 11 strikeouts. The Leopards' David Bednar also reached double digits in strikeouts during his outing in game one, as he sat down an individual career- and team season-high 10 opposing hitters over seven-plus innings.

It was the first day of conference play for both teams. Holy Cross improved its overall record to 7-14, while Lafayette fell to 2-11.

Lafayette had a chance to end game one in the seventh (the first game of all Patriot League doubleheaders is scheduled for seven innings) after sophomore designated hitter Alex Woinski led off with a double, but Holy Cross reliever Sean Gustin entered with one out, retired two Leopards and sent the game into extra innings.

With the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, Holy Cross' Evan Ocello hit what was effectively a swinging bunt. With Alex Voitik racing home from third, Lafayette catcher Parker Hills made his best effort to collect the ball and tag Voitik, but he was just out of reach and Holy Cross notched the game's only run.

Gustin was credited with his first win of the season after he returned to finish the eighth for Holy Cross. Starter Donny Murray allowed only four hits over his 6.1 innings of work for the Crusaders. Bednar was the hard-luck loser despite his career-best effort and fell to 0-4. He allowed two hits and two walks and took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning.

Game two didn't see a run scored until the top of the sixth, when Holy Cross' Bobby Indeglia -- who had led off with a double -- came home to score on a Jack St. Clair single.

It was the only blemish in Lafayette freshman John Cain's first collegiate start, as the left-hander struck out eight batters over 5.2 innings. He surrendered just four hits and two walks but took the loss to fall to 0-1. Senior relief pitcher Alex Farina was just as impressive in relief, throwing 3.1 shutout innings with two strikeouts and three hits allowed.

Freshman shortstop Steven Cohen paced the Leopards at the plate, collecting three hits on the day, including a double.

The conference foes will return to the field on Sunday, with another doubleheader set to begin at 1:05 p.m. This is a change from the original start time of noon.