Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Ball State
Xavier Nipped Late by Ball State
04.18.06 | Baseball
April 18, 2006
CINCINNATI - In non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at Hayden Field, Xavier was narrowly defeated by visiting Ball State, 3-2. The Musketeers could not capitalize on runners in scoring position and left 13 runners stranded on the afternoon. With the loss, XU is now 12-27 on the season, while the Cardinals improve to 20-16 overall.
After allowing two runs in the first two innings to the visitors, the Musketeers responded in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Adam Lipski drew a leadoff walk to get things started and was drove in during the next at-bat by senior Sean Brewer. Brewer roped a 3-2 pitch to the warning track in right center for his team-leading 14th double and 21st RBI of the season. With two outs and runners at first and second, freshman Sean Farrell stepped to the plate and delivered a flair down the left field line to allow Brewer to score and knot the game at 2-2 after five innings.
In the top of the eighth, Ball State used a leadoff single and a double to put runners at second and third with no outs before a wild pitch allowed the Cardinals to plate the go-ahead run and take the lead for good at 3-2.
Brewer ended the afternoon 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Farrell ended 1-for-4 with the other run batted in for the blue and white, while Lipski was also 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Jordan Wolf, Steve Brown and Collin Salzenstein each were 1-for-4 on the day to round out the hitting for XU.
Despite a solid effort by Chad Buchignani, the freshman was tagged with the loss. Buchignani finished with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched and only allowed one run on four hits. The freshman now has a 1.74 ERA with nine strikeouts in his 10.1 innings of work.
Xavier will take the field for the sixth time in six days tomorrow afternoon at Ohio University. The first pitch is slated for 6:00 pm at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens, Ohio. Freshman Charlie Leesman (0-0, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to make his first collegiate start.
