Jack Faggiano ’27
Staff Writer
It was a tale of two series for the Holy Cross Crusader baseball team in the last week, as they traveled to Seattle, Wash. to take on the Seattle University Redhawks, followed by a four-game stint in Portland, Ore. against the University of Portland Pilots.
The Crusaders entered the week 1-6 after earning their first win of the season on Sunday, Feb. 22 in Miami, Fl. against the Florida International University (FIU) Panthers by a score of 20-17.
Braden Connors helped Holy Cross to three wins in four games against the Redhawks last week by spearheading the offense at the leadoff spot. Connors reached base 10 times in 18 plate appearances.
Gianni Royer and Van Coughlin had a couple of big hits in this series, each recording four RBIs to contribute to an evenly distributed 35-run outburst in the four-game stint at Seattle University.
Jaden Wywoda threw another dominant seven-inning start in the opener while relievers Jake Lenahan and Henry Harding led the way in the bullpen with outstanding outings to help the Crusaders right the ship – for just a brief moment.
Pitching struggled mightily against the University of Portland, headlined by giving up 12-run, eight-run, and six-run innings. And this time, the offense wasn’t much help. With runners in scoring position on several different occasions, the Crusaders were not able to drive them in, only eclipsing four runs in one of the four games in the Portland series.
With Tuesday’s in-state affair with the University of Massachusetts– Amherst being cancelled, the Crusaders start Patriot League play this Friday at West Point where they will face Army. Just over a year ago, the Crusaders took down the Black Knights in Worcester to earn the 2025 Patriot League title and a spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
While Holy Cross is struggling in the early going, the rest of the Patriot League hasn’t been doing too well in interleague either; Navy is the only team with a winning record thus far. The Crusaders have plenty of time to turn the season around and defend their Patriot League title.
The Crusaders stay on the road for the next couple of weeks, before opening at home against the Harvard Crimson on Tuesday, March 24. Holy Cross plays its first home Patriot League series against the Lafayette Leopards Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29.
Featured image courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics
Copy Edited by Sophia Mariani ’26
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