Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Rhode Island
Ninth Inning Rally Gives Xavier Win Over Rhode Island
03.24.06 | Baseball
March 24, 2006
CINCINNATI - A ninth inning rally by the Musketeers gave Xavier the 1-0 win over visiting Rhode Island in the opening game of the Atlantic 10 series on Friday afternoon at Hayden Field. Junior Mike Creevy threw a gem allowing no runs on only six hits in his complete game effort, while the two teams only combined for 10 hits in the contest. With the victory, the Musketeers improve to 7-14 overall and are now 1-0 in A-10 play, while Rhode Island drops to 9-5 on the season and 0-1 in conference action.
No runner for either team reached third base until Xavier's Robbie Kelley blasted a lead off triple in the bottom of the ninth to start the XU rally. Collin Salzenstein followed with a shot off the pitcher's glove but URI could not scramble and get Salzenstein at first. With runners at the corners, the Rams chose to intentionally walk freshman Neil Lindgren to load the bases, which brought junior Adam Lipski to the plate. Lipski delivered the game-winning RBI with a single over the pulled in Rams' outfield to plate Kelley and give XU its first conference win of the season.
Three of the four Musketeer hits in the game came during the crucial ninth inning with Kelly, Salzenstein and Lipski each reaching. Lindgren picked up the other Xavier hit in the bottom of the seventh to break up the perfect game through six innings by Rhode Island's Stephen Holmes. The freshman also had XU's only stolen base on the afternoon.
Creevy picked up his second win of the season and pitched his second complete game of 2006. He struck out seven of the 32 batters he faced in the contest and scattered six hits over his nine innings of work.
The two teams will return to the field for the second game of the series tomorrow at Hayden Field. First pitch is slated for 12:00 pm and will find sophomore Michael Lucas (0-4, 5.45 ERA) taking the hill for the blue and white. He will face the Rams' Adam Perkins (1-0, 4.34 ERA).
