Baseball Negates Saint Louis Comeback in Tenth

March 20, 2009

CINCINNATI - Sophomore Ryan Bellamy's sacrifice to shallow center sent home senior Billy O'Connor to give Xavier baseball the win in ten innings today in front of 242 fans at Hayden Field. Xavier improves to 8-6 on the season with their first A-10 season win, while Saint Louis drops to 11-8.

O'Connor doubled to center to lead off the 10th, eventually advancing to third on fellow senior Steve Brown's sacrifice bunt. Saint Louis' J.D. Dunn made a diving catch to rob Bellamy of the hit but couldn't reach his feet in time to deliver a throw that would challenge O'Connor at the plate.

Saint Louis opened the scoring in the third inning. O'Connor caught a Lucas Calderon foul ball behind home, rifling the catch to junior Bobby Freking for the double-play force at first. Cody Cotter walk on the following at-bat, stole second, and advanced to third on an error by Drew Schmidt. Ryan Bennett's single to right scored Cotter for the first SLU run of the game.

The Musketeers answered with a three-run seventh inning. Senior Sean Farrell opened the inning with a single to second followed by a Jordan Conley walk. Schmidt bunted the runners to second and third for sophomore John McCambridge, who scored pinch-running Danny Rinck from third. Senior Adam Pasono walked and stole second, setting up O'Connor's two-run RBI single, giving XU a 3-1 lead going into the eighth.

The Saint Louis comeback began with Cotter's walk and eventual fielder's choice run in the eighth. Designated hitter Tom Pinnell opened the ninth with a double to center. Braaten's ground-out to second advanced Pinnell, who scored on Andrew Guerra's single to left center, tying the game at three. XU had a chance to finish in nine when SLU's Jerry Mancuso threw a wild pitch to advance McCambridge and Schmidt to second and third. Pasano popped up to third to send the game into the tenth, though Xavier only required one frame to top the visitors.

Conley earned the win for the Musketeers while SLU's Mancuso left with the loss. Junior Danny Rosenbaum's fantastic start helped keep Saint Louis at bay, going seven and a third innings, giving up three hits, two runs (one earned), and eight strikeouts to seven walks.

Billiken's skipper Darin Henderson was ejected from the game after arguing potential interference in the beginning of Xavier's ninth inning effort.

Xavier and Saint Louis will continue the homestand tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Hayden Field.

Schedule

Upcoming Events