Lowther Goes Eight Strong as Xavier Baseball Takes Game One Against Villanova, 1-0

Thursday, May 19

Hayden Field

3 P.M.

Xavier University

25-28, 0

Villanova

20-30, 0

Villanova

Xavier University

Lowther Goes Eight Strong as Xavier Baseball Takes Game One Against Villanova, 1-0

05.19.16 | Baseball

Box Score

Sophomore lefty tied a career-high with eight strikeouts

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletics Communication

CINCINNATI – Xavier baseball kept rolling in BIG EAST play on Thursday, getting an eight-inning gem from Zac Lowther and another clutch hit by Joe Gellenbeck to take a 1-0 win against visiting Villanova at Hayden Field.

With the win, XU improves to 25-28 overall and 12-4 in BIG EAST play. The Musketeers have now won 11 of their last 13.

Head coach Scott Googins also picked up his 300th win with the result.

Villanova dropped to 20-30 overall and 5-11 in the league with the setback, despite a strong start from staff ace Hunter Schryver (7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 K).

HIGHLIGHTS

WATCH: Zac Lowther dominated today, tying a career-high with eight strikeouts. #LetsGoX https://t.co/X8RYrtdkst
— Xavier Baseball (@XavierBASE) May 19, 2016

B8: Joe Gellenbeck delivers again! The Musketeers are on the board. #LetsGoX

XU 1 VU 0 https://t.co/GuQW0waPtr
— Xavier Baseball (@XavierBASE) May 19, 2016

XU AT THE PLATE

· Xavier collected six hits and five walks on the afternoon, but failed to push a run across until the eighth inning in a classic pitcher's duel.
· Joe Gellenbeck – who supplied two walk-offs in the Creighton series last weekend – played the hero for a third straight home game, dumping a single into right in the eighth. The looping base hit gave Rylan Bannon just enough time to score from second with the go-ahead run.
· Dan Rizzie led the offense with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, marking his team-best 18th game with multiple hits.
· Rylan Bannon (1-for-3, R), Joe Gellenbeck (1-for-4, RBI), Nate Soria (1-for-3) and Will LaRue (1-for-3) also collected hits for Xavier.

XU ON THE MOUND

· Zac Lowther (6-5) went a career-high eight innings, tying a career mark with eight strikeouts while allowing just four hits. The sophomore lefty has lasted at least five innings in all 14 of his starts this season.
· Garrett Schilling picked up his 11th save of the season with a clean ninth, marking the eighth time in the last 12 games he has been involved in either a win or save for the Musketeers. The 11 saves moved the sophomore righty into third all-time in XU single season history.

HOW XU SCORED

EIGHTH INNING: Back-to-back one out singles by Rylan Bannon and Dan Rizzie put XU in business and Joe Gellenbeck followed with another clutch hit – this time dumping a single into right to score Bannon from second and make it a 1-0 lead.

UP NEXT

· The Musketeers return to action on Friday at Hayden Field, hosting Villanova for game two of a weekend series. First pitch has been changed from its originally scheduled time and will now take place at 1 p.m. ET.