After Harvard pitcher Todd Forman struck out Holy Cross designated hitter Dave Markham in the top of the ninth yesterday at Soldiers Field, everyone was ready to go home.

Except for the Crusaders.

With the Crimson leading 2-1 with two outs and no one on base, Holy Cross exploded for a six-hit, five-run rally to take a 6-2 lead.

Harvard closed the gap to two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Crusader hurler Dave Leonard got Aron Allen to pop up with the bases loaded, and Holy Cross (4-10) held on for a 6-4 victory.

By striking out pinch-hitter Gerry Bochese in the top of the ninth, Forman--who had pitched scoreless ball since entering the game in the fifth inning--brought Harvard (4-6-1) one out away from victory.

But the roof caved in, as the Crusaders tallied four singles, a double and a triple en route to a 6-2 lead.

After singles by Stefvan Drezek and Todd Dextradeur, Brian McMillin ripped a Forman pitch past the shortstop and into left field, driving in Drezek to tie the score at two runs apiece.

In the next at-bat Doug Demeo broke the tie by lofting a Texas Leaguer into no-man's land between Harvard second baseman Casey Cobb and rightfielder Ted Decareau. Both Dextradeur and McMillin came around to score on the bloop hit, making it 4-2, Holy Cross.

Last Hope

Harvard Coach Alex Nahigian called on righthander Zach Hope to nail the third out, but a Tim Rogers single followed by a Tom Dutzer three-base hit cushioned the Crusader lead.

"It's frustrating because it wasn't as if [the Crusaders] were hitting line drives," said Harvard centerfielder and Captain Dan McConaghy, referring in part to Demeo's fly ball which broke the tie.

"We've lost a couple of games like this," said Holy Cross Coach Jack Whalen, pointing out several one-run losses this season. "We're pleased that our people can come through like they did today. It was a good win for us."

In the bottom of the ninth the Crimson responded with a rally of its own, but the four-run deficit turned out to be too great to overcome.

"They scored five runs in the top of the ninth," McConaghy said, "so there's no reason why we couldn't do the same".

Harvard loaded the bases against Crusader pitcher Kevin Ryan with a walk to Rich Renninger and singles by designated hitter Tom Konjoyan and pinch-hitter Pat Sullivan.