Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Youngstown State
Baseball Uses Six-Run Eighth to Get Past Youngstown State
03.16.08 | Baseball
March 16, 2008
Box Score
CINCINNATI - The Xavier baseball team wrapped up its four-game series with Youngstown State Sunday with an 8-2 win over the Penguins at Hayden Field on XU's campus. The Musketeers put together a six-run eighth inning to blow open the game and secure the win. Senior catcher Tyler Aholt and junior shortstop/pitcher Jordan Conley both went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the XU offense.
Youngstown State (3-9) was able to score the first run of the game in the first inning as Tom Clayton's ground out to the second baseman enabled David Leon to come across home plate.
Xavier (4-8) got one run back in the second after Aholt singled to left field and then stole second. When junior third baseman Billy O'Conner doubled to center field, Aholt was sent home, tying the game at one run apiece.
The Penguins scored again in the fourth when an unsuccessful rundown enabled Cory Hornyak to steal home. Anthony Munoz, the player who stole second on the play, was eventually put out at third.
The score was tied again in the fifth as Conley singled to right field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. O'Conner grounded out to the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt, moving Conley to third, and freshman center fielder John McCambridge singled through the left side to allow Conley to make it home. After five complete innings, the score was knotted at two-all.
Both teams remained scoreless until Xavier put together a six-run eighth inning to seal the victory for the Musketeers. The first two XU batters of the frame were hit by a pitch and with two on, junior right fielder Sean Farrell singled through the left side for an RBI as sophomore second baseman Drew Schmidt scored. Sophomore first baseman Bobby Freking singled through the left side to load the bases and the Penguins went to their bullpen. With Ryan Wackerman on the mound for YSU, junior Brett Greenwell came in to run for Freking and senior Nick Egloff pinch ran for Farrell.
Wackerman walked in a run as sophomore Zac Richard took a base on balls followed by a single from Aholt, scoring Greenwell and Egloff. Freshman Phil Bauer was sent in to run for Richard as Youngstown went back to the pen when Corey Vukovic came in as relief. Conley singled to the pitcher on a bunt and, with the bases loaded again, O'Conner reached on a fielder's choice and Bauer scored. With McCambridge at the plate, a throwing error by the pitcher enabled Aholt to score as well. After the eighth, Xavier was up 8-2, which would prove to be the final score.
Senior Kyle Cowden (1-0) got the win for the Musketeers after relieving starter freshman Tom Shirley in the six inning with the score tied at 2-2. Cowden put in 2.1 innings of work, giving up two hits and no runs.
Joe Antinone (0-1) was charged with the loss after giving up four runs in only 0.2 inning of action while striking out none.
Up next for the Musketeers is a trip to South Bend, Ind. for a single game versus Notre Dame on Tuesday, March 18. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
Youngstown State 100 100 000 - 2 9 3
Xavier 010 010 06X - 8 8 0
