'Saders earn split with Midshipmen; Gardner's Drake dominant in Game 2.

• Position: SPORTS

COLUMN: AREA ROUNDUP

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Holy Cross 6-1, Navy 0-12

Sophomores Bobby Holmes and Ryan George combined on a five-hit shutout, and seniors Gil Gomez and Brendan Akashian each drove in two runs for the visiting Crusaders, who beat Navy in Game 1 of their Patriot League tournament semifinal series.

Needing a win in Game 2 to keep their season alive, the Midshipmen put the ball in the hands of Oliver Drake, and the Gardner native responded with a dominant performance. Drake pitched 7-2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and striking out nine without a walk.

The teams will play again at noon today with the victor advancing to face the Bucknell-Army winner in the championship series.

HC got going in the top of the fifth in Game 1, scoring four runs on three hits, a walk, a hit batter and an error. Brendan McCrea started the rally with a one-out infield single, followed by a double from leadoff hitter Matt Perry.

SOFTBALL

UMass 3, Charlotte 0

Sophomore Carly Normandin, a former Gardner High standout, doubled for the Minutewomen as they captured their 20th Atlantic 10 Championship. The win was also their 29th straight.

HIGH SCHOOL

SOFTBALL

Milford 8, Wachusett 2

Jess Cantini's two-run homer in the bottom of the second capped a four-run inning, and put the Scarlet Hawks (14-0, 8-0 Mid-Wach A) up for good.

Wachusett (1-12, 1-6) scored earlier in the inning with a solo shot from Katie Donovan (3-for-3).

Cushing 5-12, Worcester Acad. 4-3

Kristinn Brown homered in both games, totaling four RBIs, to lead the Penguins to a doubleheader sweep of the Hilltoppers (10-4).

Worcester had two RBIs apiece from Lindsay John and Courtney Talcott in Game 1. In Game 2, Christina Cervini went 3 for 3 for Worcester.

Marlboro 3, Quabbin 2

Sophomore Kelsie Bryant delivered the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to give host Marlboro (10-2, 4-0) a Mid-Wach B win.

Sarah Clark singled to open the inning and was sacrificed to second. Bryant followed with a single to right center to plate Clark.

Heidi Waugh and Kyla Dickson each had two hits and a run for Quabbin (8-5, 2-3).

BASEBALL

Quabbin 6, Marlboro 0

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