Patriot League Baseball Semifinals: Holy Cross Advances; Bucknell Leads Navy 1-0
 
WORCESTER, Mass. – No. 2 Holy Cross swept No. 3 Army West Point in two games during Saturday’s Patriot League Baseball semifinal round action at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field. With the sweep the Crusaders advance to the Patriot League Championship Series and will await the winner of the No. 1 Navy vs. No. 4 Bucknell series.
 
The Bison hold a 1-0 advantage, after winning game one, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon in Annapolis, Md. The Bison and Midshipmen will conclude their best-of-three game series on Sunday afternoon with game two beginning at noon. Game three, if necessary, is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium. Both games will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network.
 
Holy Cross advanced to its fifth Patriot League Championship Series by defeating Army West Point, 8-2, in game one, before coming from behind with a four-run eighth inning to win game two, 5-4. The Crusaders will be looking to win its first Patriot League Baseball Championship.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL SEMIFINAL ROUND
NO. 4 BUCKNELL BISON (20-26, 10-10 PL) AT NO. 1 NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (37-16, 16-4 PL)
Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium/Annapolis, Md.
Saturday, May 13, 1 p.m. | Sunday, May 14, 12 p.m. | Sunday May 14, 3 p.m. (if necessary)
Broadcast: Patriot League Network
GAME ONE – Bucknell 4, Navy 1 BOX SCORE
ANNAPOLIS – Bucknell broke out for four runs in the top of the eighth inning and Bucknell senior RHP Connor Van Hoose did the rest, as the Bison defeated Navy, 4-1 in game one of the Patriot League Baseball semifinals at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.
*Van Hoose, a consensus First Team All-Patriot League pitcher, held the League’s top offense scoreless through six innings before, allowing one run in the seventh. The senior righty allowed just one run on three hits over 9.0 complete innings to earn the win. He had been perfect through five innings.  
*Navy sophomore RHP Noah Song, a second team all-League selection, held the Bison scoreless over 7.0 innings, but allowed back-to-back singles with both baserunners eventually scoring. Song takes the loss allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out seven batters after finishing 7.0 innings.  
*Bucknell sophomore catcher Evan Klugerman went 3-for-4 while senior first baseman Danny Rafferty went 2-for-4, driving in two runs.
*Navy sophomore first baseman went 2-for-3, while senior centerfielder Logan Knowles went 1-for-4 with Navy’s lone run.
*Navy got on the boad in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Knowles singled up the middle, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, moved to third on a ground out and scored on Stephen Born’s sacrifice fly.
*Bucknell broke out in the top of the eighth inning, as senior centerfielder Brett Smith drove in the Bison’s first run. Rafferty followed with a two-run double and junior shortstop Luke Johnson also drove in a run to give the Bison a 4-1 lead, the eventual final score.
 
 
NO. 3 ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (25-30, 10-10 PL) AT NO. 2 HOLY CROSS (20-25, 12-8 PL)
Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field/Worcester, Mass.
Saturday, May 13, 11:05 a.m. | Saturday, May 13, 2:05 p.m. | Sunday May 14, 1 p.m. (if necessary)
Broadcast: Patriot League Network
GAME ONE – Holy Cross 8, Army West Point 2 BOX SCORE          
WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross senior right-handed pitcher Brendan King allowed two runs on four hits over 7.0 innings, while striking out eight and walking none to lead the Crusaders to an 8-2 victory over Army West Point in game one.
*Holy Cross second baseman Cam O’Neill’s first inning three-run home runs gave senior right-handed pitcher Brendan King all he would need,
*King lasted 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out eight and walking none.
*Senior Josh Hassell singled to center field in the bottom of the second inning to drive in Chris Rinaldi, extending the lead to 4-0.
*Hassel drove in senior catcher Alex Voitik and junior third baseman Thomas Russo, before senior outfielder Bill Schlich singled to left field to drive in the Crusaders seventh run of the game.
*Senior first baseman Anthony Critelli, a First Team All-Patriot League selection, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
*Army West Point designated hitter Trey Martin hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, before senior second baseman Kris Lindner, the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, drove in David Monge for their second run.
 
GAME TWO – Holy Cross 5, Army West Point 4 BOX SCORE
WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning and Senior RHP George Capen shut the door on Army West Point to preserve a 5-4 win to win the series.
*The Crusaders senior RHP Joe Cravero gave up three runs, none earned, on four hits over 5.1 innings, while striking out five, but did not figure in the decision. Capen, who got the last two outs in game one, tossed 3.2 innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out five to earn the win.
*The Black Knights sophomore LHP Tyler Giovinco scattered six hits over 6.0 innings, allowing just one run, while striking out three, but did not figure in the decision.
*Alex Dickerson singled to drive in junior leftfielder John McCarthy to put the Black Knights in front 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
*Holy Cross senior outfielder Bill Schlich hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to even the score at one run apiece.
*The Black Knights added two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, loading the bases before Monge was hit by a pitch to allow a run to score. Dickerson would also score on Josh Hurtubise’s bunt to give Army a 3-1 lead. Lindner scored another run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a Matt Hudgins sacrifice fly.
*Holy Cross loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth inning, before Critelli laced a two-run single to right field.
*Two more Crusaders runners scored in the top of the eighth, as Masel and Critelli crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice and throwing error, while trying to turn a double play, to take a 5-4 lead.
*Army West Point loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but got a three-pitch strikeout to work out of the jam.