The Holy Cross baseball team lost 19-1 to sixth-ranked Texas in the opening game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament Austin Regional on May 29 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
With this defeat, the Crusaders’ record moved to 25-29 for the season. The team now faces elimination and will play again on Saturday, May 30, against the loser of the UC Santa Barbara and Tarleton State matchup. The broadcast network for that game is yet to be determined.
Junior left fielder John LaFleur led Holy Cross offensively, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single. Junior second baseman Alex Sandell also had two hits in four at bats, including a double. Additional hits came from junior designated hitter Gianni Royer, junior catcher Colin Brown, and sophomore right fielder Nick Andersen.
Texas scored 14 of its 19 runs with two outs and hit six home runs during the contest, tying their program record for homers in a single game. Three-hole hitters for Texas accounted for four of those home runs. On the mound for Holy Cross, senior Jaden Wywoda took the loss after pitching 4.2 innings and allowing eight earned runs on eleven hits.
The scoring began early when Anthony Pack Jr. hit a first-inning home run off Wywoda. Pack Jr., who finished with three home runs and five RBI, contributed significantly as Texas built their lead throughout the middle innings before closing out with seven more runs late in the game. In their final opportunity at bat, Holy Cross loaded the bases before LaFleur singled to right field to drive in their only run.
