Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
La Salle
Big Offensive Day Lifts Baseball Over La Salle, 18-12
04.05.09 | Baseball
April 5, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Scoring three or more runs in four innings, the Xavier baseball team tallied 18 total runs on 18 hits to avoid the Atlantic 10 series sweep at La Salle, 18-12, Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Ben Thomas was 3-for-6 at the plate, including a three-run home run in the fifth, and scored one run while collecting a game-high five RBI and a game-high 10 put outs.
Also for the Musketeers, junior Bobby Freking batted four hits in seven at-bats and scored three runs while tallying one RBI. Four other Musketeers had multiple-hit days as well. XU is off to its best start in 22 years with a 15-11 overall mark as the Muskies went 15-10 through the first weekend in April in 1987.
Xavier (15-11, 5-4 A-10) got ahead early after putting up a single run in the first and then four in the second. Senior Steve Brown led off the second with a triple and two costly Explorer errors set up the Musketeers to score. Senior Adam Pasono gave XU the five-run lead, 5-0, after he stole home.
La Salle (11-15, 2-7 A-10) got a run back in the bottom of the second but XU would answer in the third as sophomore John McCambridge belted out a solo-shot to center field, the second home run of his career, to set the score at 6-1.
Both teams exploded in the fourth, scoring five runs apiece in the frame. Senior Billy O'Conner led off the frame with a base on balls and in his attempt to steal second, the La Salle catcher over-threw the bag and O'Conner made it around to third on the error. Junior Drew Schmidt reached on a fielding error, O'Conner scored on the play and Freking followed with a single. With a man on first and second, senior Neil Lindgren was hit to load the bases for the Musketeers. With only one out, McCambridge tallied his third RBI of the day with a two-out single and sophomore Phil Bauer plated two runners with a two-RBI single to left.
The Explorers used five hits and a sac fly to score five in the bottom of the fourth and after the inning, Xavier held the 11-8 advantage.
The Musketeers put up three runs in each of the next two innings, including Thomas' three-run blast in the fifth. In the sixth, XU used five hits, including two extra-base hits, to bring in three runs to put the Musketeers up, 17-9, heading into the bottom of the sixth.
La Salle rallied in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs of its own on a two-RBI single, but that would be the end of the Explorers' offense for the day. Adding one more in the seventh, Xavier took the game, 18-12.
Sophomore Brian Muranksy (4-1) got the win for the Musketeers. He tossed two complete innings in relief of starter freshman Nathan Mutsch, giving up two runs on three hits and striking out two. Seniors Joe Kohler and Brett Greenwell also saw time on the mound for XU.
Chism (0-3) took the loss for the Explorers putting in three innings of work. He gave up three earned runs on six hits and struck out four while walking three.
The Musketeers return home for a single midweek game against Marshall on Tuesday, March 7. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Hayden Field and admission is free.
