Tying Run Stranded in Ninth as Xavier Baseball Drops Close One at No. 18 St. John's

Friday, May 12

Queens, N.Y.

4:30 p.m.

Xavier University

25-24, 7-5

St. John's

36-8, 10-4

Xavier

St. John's

Tying Run Stranded in Ninth as Xavier Baseball Drops Close One at No. 18 St. John's

05.12.17 | Baseball

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Musketeers get hits from seven different players, strong start from Schilling in close loss on Friday

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

QUEENS, N.Y. - Xavier baseball dropped a tight one in the back end of a series-opening doubleheader on Friday at No. 18 St. John's, falling 4-3 at Jack Kaiser Stadium.

Xavier goes to 25-24 (7-5 BIG EAST) with a sixth straight loss, while St. John's improved to 36-18 (10-4 BIG EAST).

The Musketeers led through the fifth inning before SJU broke through for a pair of runs in the sixth. XU tied the game in the eighth on a clutch hit by Will LaRue, but the Red Storm came right back and scored two in the bottom half -- getting the go-ahead run on an uncharacteristic two out error by the Musketeers.

Xavier showed fight, however, mounting another rally in the ninth. Mitch Gallagher connected for a pinch hit double, later coming around to score on a single by Blaine Griffiths, but it wasn't enough as the tying run was left on base.

NEXT UP

• After a rainy forecast on Saturday prompted today's doubleheader, game three in the weekend series will be played as scheduled on Sunday at Noon.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Seven different Musketeers recorded a hit for the second straight game
• Conor Grammes (1-for-3, 2B) extended his personal hitting streak to six games.
• Chris Givin (2-for-5, R) had a pair of hits to extend his team-leading eight game hitting streak.
• Rylan Bannon produced a two-hit day, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
• Sam Flamini (1-for-3) provided a hit for XU, while Mitch Gallagher (1-for-1, R, 2B) and Blaine Griffiths (1-for-1, RBI) both came up big with pinch hits in the ninth inning.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Junior Garrett Schilling was rock solid on the mound, scattering six hits over six innings of two-run ball. The righty struck out four and threw 100 total pitches on the afternoon.
• Matt Kent came on and allowed two unearned runs on five hits in two innings of relief.

HOW XU SCORED

THIRD INNING: A one out bunt single by Chris Givin kick-started a rally for XU when Conor Grammes followed with a double to deep left center to force an early pitching change for St. John's. Rylan Bannon batted next and scored Givin with a ground ball to shortstop, giving XU an early 1-0 lead.
EIGHTH INNING: Rylan Bannon singled through the left side with one out, stealing second a going to third on a passed ball. Will LaRue then singled on a rocket shot to the shortstop, bringing Bannon home to tie the game at 2-2.
NINTH INNING: Trailing 4-2, Mitch Gallagher came off the bench and doubled with one out. With two outs, Gallagher moved to third on a wild pitch and came around to score on a pinch hit single to center by Blaine Griffiths.