Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Duquesne
Baseball Downs Duquesne at A-10 Championship
05.23.08 | Baseball
May 23, 2008
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
CAMDEN, N.J. - The Xavier baseball team kept its season alive Friday afternoon as it defeated Duquesne, 9-5, in the afternoon's first elimination game. The Musketeers move on to face the Rhode Island Rams in the nightcap at approximately 7:31 at
Junior Steve Brown went 2-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Musketeers' offense.
Xavier (26-30) got on the board first early in the contest as Brown singled up the middle and sophomore Bobby Freking singled to right field. Sophomore Zac Richard was put out at first but moved both runners over and junior Jordan Conley's single to right scored both. With junior Sean Farrell at the plate, Conley was able to make a round to third on an errant throw from the Dukes' catcher to first trying to pick him off. Farrell was hit by a pitch and then in his attempt to steal second, the Duquesne pitcher over threw the ball, Farrell safely made it to second and Conley scored from third. The Musketeers took the 3-0 lead after one complete inning.
Freshman John McCambridge led off the second with a triple down the left line and junior Adam Pasono popped up to the second baseman. Schmidt's fielder's choice to third resulted in a rundown with McCambridge, allowing Schmidt to come all the way around to third. With Brown at the plate, Schmidt scored on a wild pitch to put the Musketeers up, 4-0.
The Musketeers had a big third inning, scoring five runs on four hits. Sophomore Bobby Freking got a free base after being hit by a pitch and Richard doubled to right to put two on. Conley grounded out to third, scoring Freking and Farrell's single to left scored Richard. Junior Billy O'Conner singled to right, advancing Farrell to second and McCambridge was walked to load the bases. Duquesne went to the pen and Joe Lombardo relieved starter Matt Passauer on the mound.
Passauer walked in a run as Pasono got a base on balls and then Schmidt singled to right scoring O'Conner. Brown was up next and his sacrifice fly out brought McCambridge across. Xavier headed into the fourth with a commanding 9-0 lead.
Duquesne (26-29-1) got a run back in the fourth when Bill Torre doubled down the right line and then stole third. Eric Morrison was walked to put runners on first and third and Dante Plassio grounded out to second, allowing Torre to make it home. After the top of the frame, XU led 9-1.
The Dukes rallied in the eighth inning, scoring four runs, to cut the Musketeer lead to four, 9-5. The first two Duke batters and Aaron Janusey was walked before Pat Kimutis' single put two on. Torre singled to right center, scoring Janusey, and Morrison's single to left scored Kimutis. The Musketeers went to the bullpen for junior Joe Kohler who relieved Lucas on the mound. The next Duke batter, Plassio, doubled to right field and Torre and Morrison were able to come across for DU's third and fourth run of the inning. Derek Fallecker was put out on the next play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, the Musketeers went three up and three down but Xavier was able to put the game away in the top of the ninth. The first Duke batter singled to center but the next two went down swinging. In the last at-bat of the contest, Mark Tracey popped the ball up and Schmidt caught the ball in shallow right field. With the 9-5 win, Xavier advances to on to play
Lucas (7-2) got the win for Xavier after striking out four batters while walking four in 7.2 innings of work. Kohler struck out two in 1.1 innings of action.
Passauer (2-2) took the loss for Duquesne as he gave up eight earned runs in 2.1 innings of work.
Xavier plays
