Navy, Holy Cross Set for Doubleheader Opener

WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Navy and Holy Cross baseball teams will meet in the opener of a Patriot League doubleheader on Saturday, with the visiting Midshipmen looking to build on a dramatic series-opening victory.

Navy (23-14 overall) edged Holy Cross 3-2 on Friday behind a masterful pitching performance from Brady Bendik. The right-hander threw seven no-hit innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out five. John Hooten provided the offense with a two-run homer.

The Midshipmen have won four of their last five league games.

Holy Cross (16-20) will aim to even the series after Friday’s narrow loss. Crusaders starter Jaden Wywoda took the defeat, yielding three runs on five hits over seven innings.

The pitching matchup for Saturday’s first game features two of the league’s top arms in a quick rematch. Navy’s Bendik (5-2, 1.89 ERA) is expected to start after his dominant outing Friday. Over his last five starts, he has allowed just six earned runs in 36 innings with 43 strikeouts, including an 11-strikeout, no-hit effort over eight innings in a loss at Army on March 27.

Holy Cross is likely to counter with Wywoda (3-4, 4.25 ERA) on short rest. The left-hander has been inconsistent but brilliant at times, tossing seven scoreless, no-hit innings with nine strikeouts in a win at Lehigh on March 21.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Holy Cross is projected to win 7-5.

The teams will conclude the doubleheader shortly after the completion of the first game.