Baseball Setback by Kansas, 12-4, in Nashville

March 1, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On a perfect day for baseball, the Xavier baseball team fell, 12-4, to Kansas in its second game of the Music City Invitational at Hawkins Field on the campus of Vanderbilt University. Although the Musketeers did not commit any errors, the Jayhawks' nine-run eighth sealed the win for Kansas.

Sophomore designated hitter Bobby Freking went 3-for-5 on the day while sophomore second baseman Drew Schmidt was 2-for-4.

The Jayhawks got on the board first in the top of the second inning as Preston Land doubled down the left field line for the first hit of the game. The next two batters were put out before Casey Larson doubled down the right field line, scoring Land, as Kansas went up, 1-0.

Kansas (3-5) scored again in the top of the fifth when Nick Faunce was walked and Robbie Price's sac bunt advanced Faunce. The next KU batter was put out but with two outs and one on, Land sent a long ball bouncing off the high center field fence earning him a round trip and two runs for the Jayhawks. Heading into the bottom of the frame, Kansas held the advantage, 3-0.

After seven innings of work, including six strikeouts, senior right-handed pitcher Michael Lucas was relieved by senior righty Kyle Cowden in the top of the eighth. The first KU batter of the inning was put out but Land went the distance again, his second home run of the day, over the left center fence. The Musketeers tallied another out and then Erik Morrison was hit by a pitch.

Larson doubled to right center, scoring Morrison, and Tony Thompson was also hit. Jimmy Waters' single to the pitcher advanced the runners and Faunce's single to left scored Larson and Thompson. After 0.2 innings of work, Cowden was replaced by junior right-handed pitcher Joe Kohler. Waters and Faunce advanced on a passed ball and Robbie Price singled to center field, scoring both. John Allman was hit by a pitch and Land doubled down the left line, scoring two more.

Freshman righty Brian Muransky was called in from the pen to relieve Kohler with two outs remaining in the eighth. Ryan Price singled to center, scoring Land, and then Morrison flied out to right. Kansas scored nine runs in the frame to take the 12-0 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth right-handed pitcher Matt Lane relieved lefty Shaeffer Hall on the mound for the Jayhawks and Xavier (1-4) was able to get two runs back. Senior Nick Egloff was hit by a pitch but was put out at second as junior Steve Brown reached on a fielder's choice. Senior first baseman doubled to left but Brown was put out at home on the throw.

Freking singled to left field and senior right fielder Andy Zellers reached on a KU error, scoring Kelley. Freshman Phil Bauer pinch hit for junior shortstop Jordan Conley and he singled to the third, scoring Freking. At the end of the frame, Kansas held the advantage, 12-2.

Xavier got two more in the bottom of the ninth when Schmidt singled to right field and senior Tyler Aholt, who was pinch hitting for freshman third baseman John McCambridge, was hit by a pitch. senior Nick Egloff, who came into the game for junior Adam Pasono in center field, was walked and advanced the runners. With bases loaded, Brown again reached on a fielder's choice enabling Scmidt to come across. Aholt scored the Musketeers' final run of the contest on Kelley's sac fly to right.

Up next for the Musketeers is a match up with the host team, No. 6/7 Vanderbilt, on Sunday, March 2. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. (4 p.m. CT) at Hawkins Field. Sunday's game will conclude Xavier's stint at the Music City Classic.

Win - Hall (1-0); Loss - Lucas (0-1)

WP - Lane (1). HBP - by Cowden (Morrison and Thompson); by Kohler (Allman); by Lane (Egloff); by Marcin (Aholt). PB - Price (1); O'Conner (2).

Kansas  010 020 090 - 12 13 3

Xavier   000 000 022 -  4   9  0

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