Lentz then tied the game with a two-RBI single that set the stage for Lopez' heroics.

"Lopez had missed a couple of pitches earlier in the game that he probably wished he could have back," Walsh said. "But he was swinging the ball well and still had a lot of confidence."

Although Lentz got caught between the bags to end the rally, he also made a spectacular defensive play in the top of the inning that made the Crimson comeback possible.

Freshman T.J. Sevier (1-0) came in to pitch with the Crimson down three, but never really had control on the mound. He walked the first batter he faced on four low pitches. After a Crusader sacrifice bunt, Sevier hit the next two batters to load the bases with one out.

Sensing a scoring opportunity, Holy Cross shortstop Ed Turner took a big lead off of third. But although Sevier was having trouble finding the strike zone, the guy he was throwing to had a lethally accurate arm. Lentz gunned Turner down at third, and Sevier struck out the next batter to keep the game close.

"T.J. didn't have the best stuff today," Walsh said. "When Lentz picked the kid off of third, it was the play of the game."

Crimson starter Brendan Reed didn't have his best stuff, either. The sophomore had previously allowed only five hits on the season, but he matched that total by the end of the second inning yesterday. His string of 12.1 innings without allowing an earned run was snapped in the second when Doneski singled in the game's first score.