Batsmen Bow in Ninth, 6-4

Crusaders Come Alive for Five in Final Frame

By Dan Breiner, April 13, 1989

After Leonard's entrance, Crimson batter Dave O'Connell hit into a fielder's choice--good for one run.

Marcel Durand, who already had tallied two hits on the day, followed by doubling in Konjoyan to make it 6-4.

Brick Wall

The rally went no further, though, as Leonard struck out Tim Hurley, issued an intentional walk to McConaghy to load the bases, and retired Allen to end the game.

Greg Ubert started on the mound for the Crimson, but went only four innings because he is due to pitch on Sunday in Harvard's first weekend of league competition. In his stint he gave up only two hits and one run, which was unearned.

Ubert was replaced by the freshman Forman, who managed to keep the Crusader bats quiet until the ninth inning.

"[Forman] has good control and good poise," Nahigian said. "He's strong inside, and challenges the hitters."

No Gaps

Meanwhile, Crusader starter Dan Sweeney didn't allow a Harvard runner to reach second base until the sixth inning.

Harvard batters hit the ball well, but couldn't find the gaps in the Crusader defense.

In the sixth frame the Crimson finally reached Sweeney for two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Durand opened with a single, stole second, and scored on a single by McConaghy.

Allen followed with a double to deep left field, scoring McConaghy.

"What gets to me is that their first pitcher [Sweeney] had nothing, and we only scored two runs [off Sweeney]," McConaghy said.

THE NOTEBOOK: Durand went 3-for-5 and McConaghy collected two hits in four at-bats...The Crusaders put their lead-off hitter on base in four of the first six innings...After Dutzer's sacrifice fly for the first out of the game, Harvard pitching held Holy Cross scoreless for eight and one-third innings...Both the Crimson and the Crusaders collected 11 hits...Ninth-inning action included seven runs and nine hits between the two teams...The Crimson will open its Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League season this weekend at Soldiers Field, with a doubleheader against Brown at noon Saturday and another twin bill at noon Sunday versus Yale.