Box Score

EASTON, Pa. ÃÆ'Æ’¢ÃÆ'¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡¬ÃÆ'¢Ã¢â€š¬Ã…â€Å" The Leopards took an early lead against the Crusaders on Sunday afternoon but couldn't hang on as the defending Patriot League champions came back to earn a 7-6 win at Kamine Stadium.

Defensive miscues by the Leopards helped shape the narrative of the contest, as four errors led to five unearned runs for the Crusaders, while the Leopards were able to gain one run off of two errors by Holy Cross. Lafayette was forced to go to its bullpen early after starter Mark Anderson was forced to leave the contest following a comebacker, and Holy Cross took advantage, following up a three run second inning with runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh.

Lafayette started the contest off hot at the plate, taking a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. John Marti acted as the catalyst, leading off with a triple to left center. Trey Durrah followed with a single for the first run of the game. Following a single from Steven Cohen, Patrick Nelson sent a double into left field that plated Durrah, while a throwing error allowed Cohen to come home and Nelson to move to third. Rouse rounded out the barrage with a single to centerfield that allowed Nelson to jog home.

Holy Cross responded to the Leopards outburst in the top of the second as two doubles and a sacrifice fly cut Lafayette's lead to 4-3. The Crusaders struck again in the fourth inning, taking advantage of two throwing miscues to plate two more runs and make it a 5-4 contest.

Nick Shah and Quentin Bubb combined to tie the game in the bottom of the frame for the Leopards. Shah led off with a stand-up double to left center and Bubb cashed in with a runner in scoring position, lacing a single to right field that plated Shah to level the score at 5-5.

Holy Cross seized the lead in the sixth, as Cam O'Neill sent a solo homer over the left field wall to put the Crusaders up 6-5. The Crusaders took a 7-5 lead in the seventh before Durrah responded for the Leopards in the eighth. The sophomore launched his second home run in as many days to pull the Leopards within one at 7-6. The Leopards couldn't manufacture the runs they needed in the ninth however, as the Crusaders held on for the victory.

David Giusti (3-2) was credited with the loss for the Maroon and White while Declan Cronin (9-8) earned the win on the mound for Holy Cross. Durrah had another excellent day at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 (.500) with one homerun, a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored.

Lafayette is back in action on Wednesday, April 25, when it hosts Penn State at Coca Cola Park in Allentown, Pa. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The contest will also act as the first stop on the Lafayette College Maroon Club's Athletics Caravan. For more information on the Caravan, click here. More information about the game can be found here.