WORCESTER, Mass. (Interstat) – The Holy Cross Crusaders host the Harvard Crimson on Tuesday, April 28, in a nonconference baseball matchup at Fitton Field. First pitch is scheduled for [time] under partly cloudy skies, with temperatures in the low 50s.

Holy Cross enters with an 18-25 record, while Harvard sits at 8-25. Both teams are coming off lopsided losses Sunday, with the Crusaders falling 14-2 to Lehigh and the Crimson dropping a 7-6 decision to Penn.

Right-hander Brett Mulligan is expected to take the mound for Holy Cross. The junior has been inconsistent this season, allowing three hits and two earned runs over 2.1 innings in his most recent outing against Lehigh. Mulligan’s best performance came April 11 at Bucknell, where he tossed five shutout innings, surrendering no hits and striking out three in a 7-5 victory.

Harvard will counter with Luca Alagheband, a righty who has shown promise despite the team’s struggles. In his last start April 26 against Penn, Alagheband threw 4.1 innings, allowing one hit and no earned runs while striking out four. He logged a season-high 6.1 innings April 21 against Brown, giving up four hits and one earned run with eight strikeouts. Over his past five appearances, Alagheband has a 2.51 ERA, striking out 15 in 14.2 innings.

The Crimson are in the midst of a tough stretch, having lost nine of their last 10. Their lone win during that span came April 18 against Dartmouth, a 7-6 victory in which Alagheband pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Harvard’s offense has been inconsistent, but left fielder Gavin Smith went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss to Penn.

Holy Cross has dropped four of its last five, including a 10-4 loss to Navy on April 17. Shortstop Owen Stelzer was a bright spot in Sunday’s defeat, going 2-for-3. The Crusaders have relied on timely hitting but have been plagued by pitching troubles, allowing eight or more runs in four of their last seven games.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 3-2 Holy Cross victory, a low-scoring contest that could hinge on the bullpens. Harvard’s Brett Gable has been effective in relief, posting a scoreless inning with one strikeout against Penn on Sunday.

Both teams face important conference series later this week. Harvard travels to Princeton on May 2-3, while Holy Cross hosts Bryant on Wednesday before a three-game set at Lafayette starting May 2.

For the Crimson, breaking a long losing streak will require strong pitching from Alagheband and timely hitting from the middle of the order. The Crusaders will look to Mulligan to regain his early-season form and provide length on the mound.

Tuesday’s game marks the second meeting this season between the two programs. Holy Cross won the first matchup, 9-4, on March 11 in Cambridge. First pitch is set for [time].