WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Capitalizing on early control issues and a critical error, the Holy Cross Crusaders built a substantial lead and rode a dominant relief performance from Jake Lenahan to a 6-1 victory over the Army Black Knights in Patriot League baseball action Friday evening at Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field.

In a game where Army out-hit Holy Cross seven to four, the Crusaders’ opportunistic offense and a shutdown bullpen proved decisive. The win improved Holy Cross to 5-11 overall, while Army fell to 6-9.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the second inning, transforming a scoreless contest into a commanding lead for the visitors. Holy Cross’s Simon Landry worked a walk off Army starter Andrew Berg, stole second, and then advanced to third on a passed ball after John LaFleur struck out. LaFleur reached first on the play, and Alex Sandell was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.

Berg, struggling with command, walked Owen Stelzer to force in the game’s first run. CJ Egrie then hit a ground ball to shortstop, resulting in a fielder’s choice that allowed two more runs to score when Army could not complete a double play. All three runs in the inning were unearned, stemming from the passed ball that extended the inning.

Holy Cross broke the game open in the fourth, again pressuring Berg. Sandell doubled and later scored, along with Stelzer, on a two-run single by Braden Connors. Another Army error, this time by the third baseman, allowed a sixth run to cross, making it 6-0. Berg took the loss, allowing six runs, only two earned, over four innings on three hits and three walks.

Army’s lone response came in the fifth inning. Addison Ainsworth doubled and scored on an RBI single by Chris Barr. Barr later stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, but was stranded there as the Black Knights could not further capitalize, leaving the score at 6-1.

From that point, the game belonged to Holy Cross reliever Jake Lenahan. Entering in the bottom of the seventh, Lenahan was overpowering. The right-hander fired three perfect innings, striking out five of the nine batters he faced. He extinguished any hope of an Army rally, retiring the side in order in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to seal the victory.

Army’s Anthony Ramirez provided strong relief with five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one, but the Black Knights’ offense could not solve Lenahan or muster a comeback. Army left eight runners on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The game drew an attendance of 539. The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game Patriot League series on Saturday and Sunday at West Point.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Army with a 64.70 percent probability to win prior to the contest.