Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Rhode Island
Despite Chilly Temps Baseball Downs Rhode Island, 6-1
03.29.09 | Baseball
March 29, 2009
CINCINNATI - With wind chills dipping below freezing, the Xavier baseball team avoided the series sweep by downing the visiting Rhode Island Rams, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at Hayden Field. The Musketeers used five extra-base hits and an error-free defense to wrap up the weekend with their fourth Atlantic 10 win of the season.
Senior Adam Pasono led the XU offense, going 2-for-3, including his third home run of the season, at the plate with one run scored and three RBI on the day. Senior Billy O'Conner was the only other Muskie with a multiple-hit day, going 2-for-four with a run scored in addition to two stolen bases.
Xavier (13-8, 4-2 A-10) took the early two-run lead in the second inning and never looked back. Senior Jordan Conley had a lead-off double in the inning and came around to score on a two-out single up the middle by sophomore John McCambridge. Pasono followed with a double of his own, scoring McCambridge to give XU the advantage, 2-0.
Rhode Island (14-8, 4-2 A-10) got a run back in the fourth on a solo shot to left by Rob DeVeney, his second of the series, to cut into the Xavier lead, 2-1. But Rhody would be shut out for the remainder of the contest.
The Musketeers answered in the bottom of the frame after Pasono blasted a two-run homer to left, scoring senior Steve Brown from third as well. After extending its lead to three, 4-1, XU headed into the fifth.
Xavier put up one run in each of the seventh and eighth innings to account for the last two runs of the game. O'Conner stole two bases to get himself to third after singling in the seventh. Junior Drew Schmidt tallied an RBI after his sacrifice fly out to center field allowed O'Conner to come across home. In the eighth, senior Neil Lindgren smashed a two-out solo shot to the left field fence to put the Musketeers up 6-1, which would prove to be the final score.
Freshman Josh Deeg (2-0) picked up his second win of the season for the Musketeers. Deeg had a career outing in the 6-1 victory, tossing a career-high 6.1 innings and tallying a career-high nine strike outs. He gave up one run on five hits while walking three. Freshman Tyler Koors made his sixth appearance of the season for XU, finishing up the seventh inning for XU. Senior Joe Kohler closed out the game, throwing two hitless innings for the Musketeers. He struck out three and walked none.
Eric Smith (2-1) took the loss for the Rams. He put in 5.1 innings of work giving up four runs on six hits while striking out four and walking two.
The Musketeers return to action on Tuesday, March 31 with a mid-week trip to Columbus, Ohio, to take on the Buckeyes of Ohio State. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m.
