Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
George Washington
Baseball Takes Two from George Washington
05.16.08 | Baseball
May 16, 2008
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
CINCINNATI - With two wins over George Washington on Friday, the Xavier baseball team has now moved into a tie for first place with Charlotte in the Atlantic 10 race. The Musketeers rallied from six runs down to win 9-8 in the first game of Friday's doubleheader before cruising to a 9-1 win in the nightcap. XU is set to send off its senior class on Saturday as it wraps up the regular season vs. GW and looks to hold on to the first-place spot.
Junior Steve Brown went 5-for-8 from the plate with three runs and two RBIs while classmate Billy O'Conner was 4-for-7 with two runs and two RBIs on the day. Senior Michael Lucas tossed his seventh career complete game in the nightcap in his final home appearance.
George Washington (26-28, 11-15 A-10) took the early lead in game one with a run in each of the second and third innings to take the 2-0 advantage.
Xavier (24-29, 18-8 A-10) got a run back in the third as sophomore Drew Schmidt was brought home on a single by Brown.
GW broke the game open with a five-run fourth but XU was not going away as the Musketeers put up four runs in the fifth. In the eighth, junior Sean Farrell tied the game at seven runs each with a two-run homer, his third long ball of the year.
The Colonials briefly retook the lead off a Charlie Kruer solo shot in the top of the ninth to put GW ahead, 8-7. In the bottom of the ninth, Brown led off with a single and sophomore Zac Richard was walked. Junior Jordan Conley was hit by a pitch and a single to right by O'Conner scored the tying run as Brown made it home. Freshman John McCambridge stepped to the plate and won the game with a walk off single to third as pinch runner senior Andy Zellers came across. Xavier took the first game, 9-8.
Junior Brett Greenwell (2-2) got the win for Xavier after tossing the final inning of the contest. Starter junior Charlie Leesman threw 3.2 innings with four strikeouts and two walks while senior Mike Creevy and junior Joe Kohler provided middle relief.
Jimmy Dugan (0-3) took the loss after 0.1 inning of action as he was the pitcher of record to put the scoring runs on the bases. Starter Chris Neary tossed 4.0 innings with five strikeouts and four walks.
In the nightcap, Xavier struck first as it put up single runs in the first and third. George Washington got a run back in the fourth to pull within one, 2-1, but that would prove to be its only tally of the contest.
XU scored two more in the fourth and one each in the fifth and sixth to take the 6-1 advantage. In the seventh, the Musketeers scored three more after sophomore Bobby Freking was hit by a pitch and Richard followed with a single to center field. Farrell singled to center to load the bases and Freking made it across on a single by McCambridge. Junior Adam Pasono singled up the middle and then advanced to second on the throw as Farrell made it home on the play. Xavier picked up the nightcap, 9-1.
Lucas (6-2) took the win for the Musketeers as he pitched a complete game with six strikeouts and only one walk. He gave up one run on nine hits and has now shrunk his ERA to 3.97 for the year.
Pat Lehman (6-2) took the loss for the Colonials. He threw 6.2 innings while striking out seven and walking two.
The Musketeers and Colonials will wrap up their three-game series on Saturday, May 17, as the two teams close out the regular season at Hayden Field. First pitch is at 12 p.m. and following the game, Xavier will recognize nine senior team members.
