LEWISBURG, Pa. (Interstat) — In a Patriot League contest defined by a chaotic opening frame and a pivotal relief performance, the Bucknell Bison edged the Holy Cross Crusaders 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Eugene B. Depew Field.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the bottom of the first inning. Holy Cross starter Jaden Wywoda, despite not allowing a hit over six innings, lost command immediately. He hit Michael Trommer, walked Ty Lagoni, and then surrendered a two-run single to Garrett Mathias and an RBI single to John Calabrese. With the bases cleared, Lleyton Coupe delivered the decisive blow, a two-run double down the left-field line to cap a five-run outburst. All five runs were charged to Wywoda, who recorded seven strikeouts but was undone by five walks and two hit batters.

Conversely, Bucknell starter Jake Schultz emerged as the star. After his offense staked him to a 5-0 lead, Schultz stifled the Crusaders over four dominant innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out seven, keeping Holy Cross off the board and providing essential stability. His effort was a stark turnaround from his previous outing on April 4 against Lafayette, where he allowed three earned runs in just 1.2 innings.

Holy Cross mounted its only serious threat in the fifth inning, capitalizing on Bucknell’s bullpen and defensive miscues. After Schultz exited, reliever Liam Jones struggled, loading the bases. A walk to Nick Andersen forced in a run, and a fielder’s choice by John LaFleur brought home another. Following a pitching change to Hadley Maxwell, Van Coughlin’s RBI single and a subsequent error by third baseman Michael Trommer allowed two more unearned runs to score, slicing the deficit to 5-4. Maxwell halted the rally there, however, and proceeded to pitch 2.1 scoreless innings of one-hit relief to secure the win.

The victory improved Bucknell’s season record to 19-13, while Holy Cross fell to 15-17. The result avenged a 14-5 loss to the Crusaders just one day prior. Both teams managed only five hits apiece in a game that defied the Interstat game simulator’s projection of a 7-6 Bucknell win and its pregame ELO probability giving the Bison a 51.6% chance.

The teams were set to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday. Holy Cross will visit Brown on Tuesday, while Bucknell travels to face Villanova the same day.