Xavier Baseball Downs No. 8 Kentucky in Extra Innings for First Win in O'Conner Era

Tuesday, February 20

Lexington, Ky.

6 p.m.

Xavier University

1-3

No. 8 Kentucky

4-1

Xavier

Kentucky

Xavier Baseball Downs No. 8 Kentucky in Extra Innings for First Win in O'Conner Era

02.20.18 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)Highlights

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Head coach Billy O'Conner had a memorable first win on Tuesday night as Xavier baseball outlasted No. 8 Kentucky, 3-2, in 10 innings at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

XU improved to 1-3 with the result, snapping a three-game losing streak and giving O'Conner his first career win.

Freshman Allbry Major came up with a clutch two out, two run single in the first and XU was able to hang on until the 10th inning when Natale Monastra's sacrifice fly gave the team the lead for good.

Junior Trey Schramm came up huge in a second straight scoreless three inning relief appearance, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth and nailing down his first win of the season in the 10th.

NEXT UP

• Xavier gets back to action this weekend in Spartanburg, S.C., traveling to play Wofford, Presbyterian and USC Upstate in a three-game weekend. First pitch is set for Friday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. against Wofford.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Xavier worked five walks and collected eight hits in the win.
• Conor Grammes went 2-for-5 with a run scored, doubling in the first inning and coming around to score. The sophomore is now batting .412 (7-for-17) with three runs, two doubles and a homer in XU's first four games.
• Joe Gellenbeck had a huge game, going 3-for-3 with a pair of walks, two runs scored and a stolen base.
• Allbry Major had the big hit in the first inning, knocking in his first collegiate RBI with a two-run single and finishing the game 1-for-3 with two RBI, two walks and a stolen base.
• Mitch Gallagher (1-for-5) and Matt Warkentin (1-for-4) also had hits for the Musketeers.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Freshman Henry Miller got the start and tossed four innings of one-run ball, striking out six and scattering four hits in an impressive first career start.
• Another freshman, Allbry Major, followed him out of the bullpen and went 1.2 innings, striking out three and allowing one run.
• Sophomore Conor Grammes took over in the sixth, going 1.1 innings and striking out one in a scoreless outing.
• Junior Trey Schramm went three scoreless, striking out three and allowing just two hits to earn the win in relief. It was his second three inning, scoreless relief appearance in two days. With the bases loaded in the ninth, Schramm came up with back-to-back strikeouts to get out of a jam and sealed the win with a three straight outs after a leadoff walk in the 10th.

HOW XU SCORED

FIRST INNING: Sophomore Conor Grammes doubled to right center with one out and was followed by Joe Gellenbeck, who walked to put two aboard. After a two out passed ball, runners were on second and third for freshman Allbry Major who singled to right center to score both runs.
TENTH INNING: Joe Gellenbeck got the rally started with a one out double down the right field line, advancing to third on an error by the UK right fielder. Natale Monastra then came off the bench to pinch hit and lofted a sacrifice fly to right to score Gellenbeck and give XU a 3-2 lead.

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