WORCESTER, Mass. – The Marist baseball team lost a non-conference game at Holy Cross by a score of 5-3 on Wednesday.

After Holy Cross scored three runs in the third, Marist responded by tying the game in its next at-bat. With two outs in the top of the fourth, sophomore second baseman Joey Aiola (Suffern, N.Y.) belted a bases-clearing double, which brought home senior left fielder Zachary Passerelle (Sparta, N.J.), junior first baseman Steve Laurino (Carle Place, N.Y.) and freshman third baseman Ben Moller (Warrington, Pa.) to tie the score.

However, in the bottom of the fifth, Holy Cross scored twice to take the lead for good. With two outs and no one on base, the Crusaders used two singles, two walks, two stolen bases, a wild pitch and a passed ball to push across its two runs.

A combination of nine Holy Cross pitchers held Marist to three hits. Justin Finan (2-1) pitched a scoreless fifth and sixth to earn the win for the Crusaders. Sean Gustin pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save. Shortstop Nick Lovullo led Holy Cross offensively by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

Junior right-hander Evan Davis (Little Falls, N.Y.) took the loss in relief for the Red Foxes and fell to 1-4. Davis allowed just two hits in 3.2 innings and struck out three. Freshman right-hander Sean Keenan (Dayton, N.J.) went the first 3.1 innings and struck out two. Freshman right-hander Ryan Thomas (Ringoes, N.J.) pitched a scoreless eighth with one strikeout.  

Marist is now 7-18 overall, and Holy Cross is 8-15.

Marist returns to action this weekend with a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series at Rider. The Red Foxes and Broncs will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon, followed by a single game Sunday at noon.