WORCESTER, Mass.  – The Lafayette baseball team got off to a fast start when senior Dan Leckie homered in the second inning, but that would be the only offense for the Leopards, falling to Holy Cross 5-1 Monday morning at Fitton Field.
 
The loss puts the Crusaders (15-26, 10-7 PL) two games ahead of the Leopards (13-24, 8-9 PL) in the Patriot League standings with Lafayette clinging to its fourth place spot in the standings.
 
Lafayette took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the second when Holy Cross came alive to push two across before freshman shortstop Justin Johnson flashed some leather on a grounder up the middle to limit the damage.
 
It would not matter as Crusader pitching kept Lafayette off balance all morning long, punching out 12 Leopards in the game.
 
Senior Spencer Rouse did not pick up a hit, but was able to push his on-base streak to 21 games with a base on balls in the sixth inning. Leckie's home run gives him a hit and an RBI in four of the last five games.
 
Sophomore Tyler Faccenda was a bright spot for the Lafayette pitching staff, working 1.2 innings out of the bullpen with three strikeouts and allowing only two baserunners.
 
The Leopards turn their attention to the Liberty Bell Classic title game on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park against Delaware with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Philadelphia ballpark.
 
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