Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
No. 4 Massachusetts
Three-Run First Lifts Baseball Over Massachusetts
05.22.09 | Baseball
May 22, 2009
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DAYTON, Ohio - The Xavier baseball team recorded its school-record 35th win Friday afternoon as it eliminated four-seeded Massachusetts from the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship, 6-3. The Musketeers move on to face top-seeded Dayton at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Musketeers were led by junior Bobby Freking who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Sophomore John McCambridge tallied two hits on the day as well.
Xavier (35-19) jumped out to a quick three-run lead in the first inning after senior Jordan Conley singled in junior Drew Schmidt to score the first run of the game. With two on and two outs, Freking's double sent both runners home to give the Musketeers the 3-0 lead.
Massachusetts (27-26) remained scoreless through the bottom of the frame and as XU came back to the plate in the second, senior Billy O'Conner blasted out his second career home run to put Xavier ahead, 4-0. The Minutemen would get on the board in the third with a solo shot of their own when Kyle Multner sent one over the right field fence.
The Minutemen got another run back in the fifth after putting two men on with two outs. Mike Donato singled in Brian Baudinet but Jim MacDonald was picked off trying to reach third on the play. The Musketeers' Conley scored his second run of the day in the following frame on a single from McCambridge and, with the bases loaded, a wild pitch enabled Freking to come home. After five and a half, the Muskies held the 6-2 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Musketeers got out of a jam after the Minutemen loaded the bases with only one out. Sam Boone hit into the glove of a diving McCambridge, who was able to toss the ball to Schmidt at second to complete the double play and end the inning with no damage.
The score would remain unchanged through the bottom of the ninth when UMass' Sam Boone tripled to right center and was brought home on a ground out for the Minutemen's final run of the game. The Musketeers took the contest, 6-3, to advance to game nine of the 2009 A-10 Championship where they will face top-seeded Dayton in an elimination game. The winner of tonight's game will face No. 2 Rhode Island in the title game tomorrow.
Sophomore Ben Thomas (5-1) got the win for the Musketeers after throwing five innings and facing two batters in the sixth. He gave up two runs on six hits and struck out two while walking four. Senior Brett Greenwell provided three innings of scoreless relief while Conley closed out the game for XU on the mound.
Mike DiCato (5-4) took the loss for the Minutemen after putting in six innings of work. He gave up six runs on eight hits and fanned three with walking one.
