Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Winthrop
One Run Spells Loss Again for Xavier
02.18.07 | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2007
ROCK HILL, S.C. - For the second time in the series, one run spelled defeat for Xavier as No. 24 Winthrop took the final game, 3-2. XU received another great effort on the mound by freshman Zac Richard, who made his career debut. The loss drops the Musketeers to 0-3 on the season, while Winthrop improves to 7-2 on the season and winners of its last six straight.
After striking out two of the first three batters he faced, Richard was threatened in the second but struck out the final batter to end the Eagle rally and leave the score at zeros. A double followed by a single led to Winthrop's first run of the ballgame in the third and the next inning saw the home squad push across two more runs to increase the lead to 3-0 through six innings.
Xavier finally lit up the scoreboard in the visitor's half of the seventh. Adam Pasono led off the inning by reaching on an Eagle error and moved to second after Adam Lipski was hit by a pitch. With one out, junior Robbie Kelley singled to right to score Pasono and move Lipski to third. Sophomore Sean Farrell would follow with another single to drive in Lipski and leave the score at 3-2 in favor of Winthrop.
Unfortunately, the Eagles' pitching staff would bear down and not allow another run in the ball game as the staff retired the next five straight before inducing a game-ending groundout after freshman Drew Schmidt singled with two outs in the ninth.
Richard threw a solid 5.0 innings allowing only three runs on five hits. The freshman struck out three, while not surrendering a walk in his collegiate debut. He gave way to junior transfer Kyle Cowden who did not disappoint in his debut for the Blue and White. Cowden scattered five hits over his 1.1 innings pitched before leaving the final 1.2 innings to senior Mike Creevy. Creevy would continue to roll, striking out two in the final 1.2 innings.
Kelley and Farrell lead the way at the plate with a hit and RBI each, while four other Musketeers earned a hit on the afternoon. Pasono, Matt Waskerwitz, Schmidt and Steve Brown were the other four players to have a single in the game.
Lipski and Pasono led the Musketeers on the weekend as each recorded three hits in the series. Lipski and classmate Jordan Wolf were the only XU players to notch an extra-base hit with a double and triple, respectively.
Senior Bill Konecny and junior Michael Lucas each threw 6.0 innings in their respective starts without surrendering an earned run. As a staff, Xavier only allowed 14 runs in the three-game series compared to the 24 allowed in the season opening series at East Tennessee State last year.
Xavier will have the week off to regroup before heading out next weekend for a three-game set with Western Kentucky. The series with the Hilltoppers is set to get underway next Friday, February 23, with the first pitch set for 3:00 pm.
