The Holy Cross baseball team was defeated by the University of Portland 10-4 in a non-conference matchup on Friday night at Joe Etzel Field. The result moves Holy Cross to a 4-9 record this season, while Portland now stands at 6-6.
Starting pitcher Pedro Leon took the loss for Holy Cross, allowing five runs and issuing five walks over three innings. Trey Newmann started for Portland and earned the win, giving up three runs over five innings with five strikeouts.
Out of the bullpen, junior Nick Harnisch pitched 4.2 innings for Holy Cross, conceding one run and striking out four. For Portland, Kaden Segel recorded his first save of the season after pitching four innings and allowing just one run.
At the plate for Holy Cross, Braden Connors went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Alex Sandell also had two hits and scored once. Simon Landry finished with two hits as well. Colin Brown drove in a run with an RBI single in the second inning that gave Holy Cross an early lead.
Portland responded with a solo home run in the third inning to tie the game. The Pilots then capitalized on four consecutive walks and an RBI double in the fourth inning to take control, eventually scoring eight runs that frame to go ahead 9-1.
Holy Cross added runs in the fifth inning through Gianni Royer’s RBI single and another score on a dropped third strike but trailed 9-3. Portland extended its advantage with another run before freshman Owen Stelzer singled for an RBI in the eighth to make it 10-4.
Holy Cross will continue its spring break trip against Portland on Saturday, March 7, with junior right-hander Thomas Skrobe scheduled to start.
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