Holy Cross Axes Baseball, 3-2

Mustering just four hits, the baseball team (9-7, 4-0 Ivy League) lost to Holy Cross, 3-2, yesterday at Soldiers Field.

"We couldn't get any momentum," junior leftfielder Aaron Kessler said. "We were hitting little weak grounders and hard line drives right at fielders."

Holy Cross starter Jim Joseph (2-2) allowed three hits and both Harvard runs in 5.1 innings. Joseph walked four and struck out three."

"I tried to get ahead of hitters," Joseph said. "In the sixth inning, though, I ran into trouble."

Trailing 3-1 in that inning, Harvard made its comeback bid. Junior shortstop David Forst drew a leadoff walk, and junior centerfielder Brian Ralph singled to right center. Kessler then reached on a fielder's choice.

"I just couldn't get the sacrifice bunt down," Kessler said.

Forst was out at third, but sophomore Andy Huling singled to load the bases. Captain Peter Albers drew Harvard within one with a walk.

However, Andy Nolan, who replaced Joseph, got pinch-hitter Todd Harris to hit into a double play.

"All we needed was a fly ball," coach Joe Walsh said. "Kessler has some wheels. Harris hit it solidly, though."

Nolan pitched three more scoreless innings, recording his first save of the season.

"We played well on a cold day," Holy Cross coach Jack Whalen said. "We pitched well; Nolan got that big double-play ball."

Ralph led the Crimson with two hits, including a double in the first inning. He scored the team's first run in that inning on Kessler's sacrifice fly.

The Crusaders (7-12) evened the score on John Sheehy's RBI single in the fourth. An inning later, Brian Issitt gave Holy Cross all the insurance it would need with a two-run, based-loaded single.

Crimson starter Don Jamieson (2-2) allowed all three runs in six innings. Jamieson walked three and struck out four.

"The Holy Cross batters were very patient," Jamieson said. "I had more success against teams in Florida that had more power and better hitters.

"Those [Florida] hitters were very aggressive, though; they would chase pitches. Against Holy Cross, I had to throw strikes to beat them; they wouldn't chase anything out of the strike zone."

Huling pitched three scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out three. He did not walk a batter.

Harvard will face Maine today at 3 p.m. at Soldiers Field.

HR: None. 3B: None 2B: Holy Cross--Power. Abdou; Harvard--Ralph. E: Holy Cross--None; Harvard--keck.

WP: Joseph (2-2); LP: Jamieson (2-2) Fairfield  0 Harvard  8

HOLY CROSS, 3-2 at Baseball Diamond         --  R  H  E Holy Cross  000  120  000  --  3  8  0 Harvard  100  001  000  --  2  4  1

HOLY CROSS, 3-2 at Baseball Diamond         --  R  H  E Holy Cross  000  120  000  --  3  8  0 Harvard  100  001  000  --  2  4  1