Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, February 18
Troy, Ala.
5 p.m.
Xavier University
2-1
8
at
2
Troy
1-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Xavier
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
4
0
8
11
0
Troy
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
5
0
Astle, Four-Run Eighth Propel Xavier Baseball Past Troy, 8-2
02.18.17 | Baseball
Freshmen Nate Monastra, Conor Grammes drive in two runs apiece as XU takes game three of the series
TROY, Ala. - Senior lefty Trent Astle turned in a rock solid start and two freshmen, Nate Monastra and Conor Grammes, each knocked in a pair of runs as Xavier took down Troy, 8-2, in game three of a weekend series on Saturday evening at Riddle-Pace Field.
Astle scattered three hits through six innings, striking out three and needing just 75 pitches to earn his first win of the season.
Conor Grammes continued a blazing beginning to his college career, getting his first start at second base and mashing his first collegiate home run in the second inning. He also made his pitching debut for XU, tossing a 1-2-3 frame in the seventh.
After a frustrating extra innings loss in the afternoon, XU got the bats going in the second inning with two quick runs. The Musketeers would add a run in the fifth and sixth before exploding for four runs in the eighth to effectively put the game away.
• Conor Grammes had his third straight multi-hit game to begin his college career. The freshman went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and RBI, connecting for his first career homer in the second inning.
• Nate Monastra had an outstanding collegiate debut, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. The freshman catcher hit his first career homer in the fifth inning.
• Grammes is now 6-for-13 (.462) with a homer and five RBI in his first three collegiate games.
• Chris Givin (1-for-4, BB), Rylan Bannon (1-for-5), Mitch Gallagher (1-for-5, R), Blaine Griffiths (1-for-3, RBI), Nate Soria (1-for-1, R, RBI), Will LaRue (1-for-4, R) and Ethan Schmidt (1-for-1, RBI) all recorded hits as well.
• Xavier produced 11 hits, but struck out 11 times as Troy pitching continued to ring up strikeouts in bunches. XU has now struck out 42 times in three games in the series.
• Trent Astle (1-0) was solid in his first start of the season, going six innings and scattering three hits while striking out three. The senior lefty needed just 75 pitches to pick up his first win of the season.
• Conor Grammes and Grey Harmon, both freshmen, made their career debuts on the mound in relief of Astle. Junior Christian Glass also made his first career appearance on the mound, closing out the win. Grammes tossed a scoreless seventh, while Harmon picked up two outs in the ninth inning
• XU starting pitchers have combined for a 1.50 ERA through two games, striking out 16 and allowing just seven hits in 18 innings of work.
• Xavier's bullpen had a streak of nine innings without allowing an earned run snapped in the ninth inning.
SECOND INNING: Conor Grammes led off the inning with a solo shot to left for his first collegiate homer, making it a 1-0 game. Mitch Gallagher followed with a single to left center, coming around to score on a double to left by Nate Monastra in his first collegiate at-bat.
FIFTH INNING: Nate Monastra connected again in his second plate appearance, launching a solo homer to left to make it a 3-0 game.
SIXTH INNING: Joe Gellenbeck led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a ground out by Conor Grammes. After a strikeout by Mitch Gallagher, Blaine Griffiths singled into left to score Joe Gellenbeck.
EIGHTH INNING: Joe Gellenbeck walked to lead off the inning, scoring on a double to left center by Conor Grammes. Nate Soria then brought Grammes home with a base hit to left center. Will LaRue followed with a single through the right side, moving Soria up a station. Ethan Schmidt then launched a one out double to left, scoring Nate Soria. The final run came across as Will LaRue scored on a grounder by Matt Fallon.
• Xavier wraps up the weekend at Riddle-Pace Field on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Greg Jacknewitz will take the ball in the fourth game of the series for XU with live stats available through TroyTrojans.com.
Astle scattered three hits through six innings, striking out three and needing just 75 pitches to earn his first win of the season.
Conor Grammes continued a blazing beginning to his college career, getting his first start at second base and mashing his first collegiate home run in the second inning. He also made his pitching debut for XU, tossing a 1-2-3 frame in the seventh.
After a frustrating extra innings loss in the afternoon, XU got the bats going in the second inning with two quick runs. The Musketeers would add a run in the fifth and sixth before exploding for four runs in the eighth to effectively put the game away.
 |
XU AT THE PLATE |
• Conor Grammes had his third straight multi-hit game to begin his college career. The freshman went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and RBI, connecting for his first career homer in the second inning.
• Nate Monastra had an outstanding collegiate debut, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. The freshman catcher hit his first career homer in the fifth inning.
• Grammes is now 6-for-13 (.462) with a homer and five RBI in his first three collegiate games.
• Chris Givin (1-for-4, BB), Rylan Bannon (1-for-5), Mitch Gallagher (1-for-5, R), Blaine Griffiths (1-for-3, RBI), Nate Soria (1-for-1, R, RBI), Will LaRue (1-for-4, R) and Ethan Schmidt (1-for-1, RBI) all recorded hits as well.
• Xavier produced 11 hits, but struck out 11 times as Troy pitching continued to ring up strikeouts in bunches. XU has now struck out 42 times in three games in the series.
|
|
XU ON THE MOUND |
• Trent Astle (1-0) was solid in his first start of the season, going six innings and scattering three hits while striking out three. The senior lefty needed just 75 pitches to pick up his first win of the season.
• Conor Grammes and Grey Harmon, both freshmen, made their career debuts on the mound in relief of Astle. Junior Christian Glass also made his first career appearance on the mound, closing out the win. Grammes tossed a scoreless seventh, while Harmon picked up two outs in the ninth inning
• XU starting pitchers have combined for a 1.50 ERA through two games, striking out 16 and allowing just seven hits in 18 innings of work.
• Xavier's bullpen had a streak of nine innings without allowing an earned run snapped in the ninth inning.
|
|
HOW XU SCORED |
SECOND INNING: Conor Grammes led off the inning with a solo shot to left for his first collegiate homer, making it a 1-0 game. Mitch Gallagher followed with a single to left center, coming around to score on a double to left by Nate Monastra in his first collegiate at-bat.
FIFTH INNING: Nate Monastra connected again in his second plate appearance, launching a solo homer to left to make it a 3-0 game.
SIXTH INNING: Joe Gellenbeck led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a ground out by Conor Grammes. After a strikeout by Mitch Gallagher, Blaine Griffiths singled into left to score Joe Gellenbeck.
EIGHTH INNING: Joe Gellenbeck walked to lead off the inning, scoring on a double to left center by Conor Grammes. Nate Soria then brought Grammes home with a base hit to left center. Will LaRue followed with a single through the right side, moving Soria up a station. Ethan Schmidt then launched a one out double to left, scoring Nate Soria. The final run came across as Will LaRue scored on a grounder by Matt Fallon.
|
|
UP NEXT |
• Xavier wraps up the weekend at Riddle-Pace Field on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Greg Jacknewitz will take the ball in the fourth game of the series for XU with live stats available through TroyTrojans.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Astle, Trent (1-0)
L: Osby, D. (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Grammes, Conor 1 ; Monastra, Natale 1 ; Schmidt, Ethan 1
HR: Grammes, Conor 1 ; Monastra, Natale 1
RBI: Grammes, Conor 2 ; Griffiths, Blaine 1 ; Soria, Nate 1 ; Monastra, Natale 2 ; Schmidt, Ethan 1 ; Fallon, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gellenbeck, Joe 2 ; Grammes, Conor 2 ; Gallagher, Mitch 1 ; Soria, Nate 1 ; LaRue, Will 1 ; Monastra, Natale 1
Batting:
2B: Binder, B. 1
3B: Frederic, D. 1
RBI: Binder, B. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Denison, J. 1 ; Lockridge, B 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
2b/p
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballHIGHLIGHTS | Baseball vs. UConn (BIG EAST Tournament)
Thursday, May 22
HIGHLIGHTS | Baseball at Penn State (Game 3)
Saturday, May 17
HIGHLIGHTS | Baseball at Creighton (Game Three)
Sunday, May 11
HIGHLIGHTS | Baseball at Creighton (Game 2)
Sunday, May 11