McQuillan clutch in Crusaders comeback

Mike McQuillan went 3-for-4 with two RBI to help No. 3 Brother Rice rally for an 8-6 victory over visiting No. 8 Providence in an early season Catholic League Blue matchup on Tuesday afternoon.

The Crusaders (12-1, 2-0) trailed 6-3 before putting up five runs in the bottom of the fourth. They took advantage of four walks and two errors by Providence (7-3-1, 0-2). McQuillan had one of Brother Rice's two hits in the inning with an RBI single to right.

"It shows we've been there before and can come from behind," said McQuillan, a senior second baseman. "We don't like being behind, but we know baseball is a seven inning game.

"(In the fourth,) we knew we had to take advantage of the opportunity. If you put the ball in play good things happen."

McQuillan also had a solo home run to center, his second of the season, to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Senior first baseman Tom Hickey added two RBI for the Crusaders.

Right fielder Greg Bennett, who was 2-for-4 with a solo homer and three RBI, helped Providence to a 10-7 advantage in hits. Center fielder Bryan Davis also had a solo homer and third baseman Chuck Triana added two hits. But the Celtics committed four errors in the game, three of them leading to runs.

Kevin Koziol (3-0) hurled the final 3 2/3 innings to get the win in relief. The sophomore right-hander, who entered the game with an ERA of 0.60, allowed two hits while walking two and striking out four.

"I thought we played a good game except for on e half inning," Providence coach Mark smith said. "But if you play bad in an inning like that against a good team like this it'll come back and bite you."