BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Interstat) — Jake Lenahan and three other Holy Cross pitchers combined on a seven-hit shutout over the final six innings, and the Crusaders capitalized on a critical eighth-inning wild pitch to secure a 6-4 victory over Lehigh in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Crusaders improved to 8-13 overall, while the Mountain Hawks fell to 4-14.

Holy Cross built an early lead with a run in the second inning. Alex Sandell singled and later scored on an RBI single up the middle by Owen Stelzer. The Crusaders then broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning off Lehigh reliever Max Treonze. After a run scored on a groundout by Van Coughlin, Ryan Grundy delivered the key blow, a two-run double down the right-field line to score John LaFleur and Sandell, extending the lead to 6-2.

Lehigh mounted its primary threat in the third and fifth innings against Holy Cross starter Pedro Leon and reliever Marco Citro. The Mountain Hawks scored two in the third on an RBI single by Ryan Cochran and a run-scoring groundout by Robbie Carvelli. In the fifth, after Nick Harnisch relieved Citro, Lehigh catcher Owen Walewander launched a two-run homer to left-center field off Harnisch, cutting the deficit to 6-4 and bringing the tying run to the plate.

The most important sequence of the game followed in the top of the eighth inning, with Holy Cross clinging to the two-run lead. Facing Lehigh reliever Cole Kochanowicz, the Crusaders loaded the bases with one out on a walk to Grundy, a walk to Stelzer and an infield single by CJ Egrie. Kochanowicz then unleashed a wild pitch that allowed Grundy to score from third, providing a crucial insurance run and restoring a three-run cushion at 7-4. Lehigh reliever David Andolina entered and escaped further damage, but the run proved decisive.

From there, the Holy Cross bullpen dominated. After Harnisch surrendered the home run, Lenahan entered to start the seventh inning and was flawless. The right-hander retired all nine batters he faced over the final three innings, striking out two, to earn the save and seal the victory. Lenahan extended a stellar recent run, having now thrown seven consecutive scoreless innings over his last three appearances.

Leon earned the win for Holy Cross, allowing two earned runs over 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. Treonze took the loss for Lehigh, yielding three earned runs on five hits in three innings of relief.

Holy Cross out-hit Lehigh 11-7, with Stelzer, Sandell and LaFleur each collecting two hits. Walewander’s two-run homer was the standout offensive moment for the Mountain Hawks.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday.