Holy Cross Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Army :: Shapiro picks up second career complete game with victory over Black Knights.

April 5, 2008

WORCESTER, Mass. - Sophomore Matt Shapiro (Raynham, Mass.) threw his second career complete game, picking up a seven inning shutout in the first game as the Holy Cross baseball split a doubleheader with Army this afternoon in Patriot League action, winning 9-0 and losing the second game, 16-0. The Crusaders are now 10-15 (5-1 Patriot League) while the Black Knights are 8-17 on the season (2-4 Patriot League).

In game one, junior Billy Cupelo (Franklin, Mass.) started the scoring for Holy Cross, driving in a run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Brendan Akashian (Lowell, Mass.) drove in a run with the bases loaded, singling to left field, making the score 2-0. The Black Knights threatened in the top of the fourth inning, loading the bases with no outs. Shapiro got Mike Greco to fly out to first base for the first out and Chris Simmons lined to third baseman sophomore Matt Perry (Sudbury, Mass.) who completed the double play, throwing out Kevin McKague at second for the final out. The Crusaders rallied in seven more runs in the bottom of the fourth, led by Cupelo's two-out double to left field that drove in two runs. Shapiro picked up his third win of the season, scattering five hits over seven innings while striking out four batters.

In the second game, Cupelo went 2-for-3, hitting his eighth double of the season while junior Tim Hughes (Andover, Mass.) went 1-for-1 at the plate with a double.

The Crusaders and the Black Knights return to action tomorrow, Sunday April 6, wrapping up their four-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 12:00 p.m.