Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short for Baseball in Game One of Saturday Doubleheader

Saturday, March 10

San Francisco, CA

10:30 a.m.

Xavier University

4-11

San Francisco

8-6

Xavier

San Francisco

Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short for Baseball in Game One of Saturday Doubleheader

03.10.18 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Nate Soria hit a grand slam in the ninth inning of a second straight loss for XU

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

SAN FRANCISCO - Xavier baseball scored four in the ninth off a grand slam by Nate Soria, but it wasn't enough as San Francisco clinched a series win with an 8-5 victory on Saturday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.

The Musketeeers (4-11) will wrap up the series with game two coming up in the bay.

NEXT UP

• Xavier finishes out series and its west coast road trip with game two of a doubleheader.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Nate Soria led the way with a double and a grand slam as part of a 3-for-4 day, scoring a run and adding a career-high five RBI.
• Natale Monastra also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
• Allbry Major (1-for-4, R) and Mitch Gallagher (1-for-2) also added hits for XU.
• Blaine Griffiths worked a walk and scored in his only plate appearance, entering in right field late.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Senior Damien Richard got the start and tossed six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out seven.
• Junior righty Matt Kent came on in relief, allowing four hits and three earned runs in two innings.

HOW XU SCORED

FIFTH INNING: Natale Monastra singled to right field, coming around to score on a double by Nate Soria.
NINTH INNING: With two outs, Blaine Griffiths pinch hit and walked before Allbry Major singled up the middle to put two on. After a San Francisco pitching change, Natale Monastra reached on an infield single. Batting next, Nate Soria homered to left to clear the bases with his first homer of the year. XU would put the next two on before an infield fly ended the game.