Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Fordham
Musketeers Rally to Take Finale against Fordham
04.02.06 | Baseball
April 2, 2006
Box Score
CINCINNATI - In the final game of the series, Xavier used a bases-clearing triple by Adam Lipski to earn the victory over visiting Fordham in Atlantic 10 action at Hayden Field on Sunday afternoon. The Musketeers rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning to record four runs and break open a 1-1 tie. With the win, XU now improves to 9-18 on the season and 2-4 in A-10 play, while Fordham drops to 11-15 and 5-1 in conference action.
After Fordham posted the first run of the contest in the top of the second off a wild pitch, the Musketeers' pitching staff would hold the Rams to no runs and only eight hits the rest of the way. XU would respond with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Robbie Kelley belted an RBI-single up the middle to score Dan Hayden. Hayden started the inning with a double down the left field line to put himself into scoring position.
The Musketeers would come to life in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Kelley would again get things going for XU with a single to right center. After a strikeout looked to end the Xavier half, a two-out walk by Collin Salzenstein was followed by Neil Lindgren being hit with a pitch and the blue and white had bases loaded with two down. The junior Lipski would then step to the plate and deliver his second bases-clearing triple of the week to put XU ahead 4-1. Sean Brewer would deliver a single up the middle in the next at-bat to plate Lipski and give Xavier an insurance run pushing the lead to 5-1. Senior Steve Sakosits would come into the game to throw a two-hit ninth and give the Musketeers the conference victory.
Kelley ended the contest 2-for-3 with a walk and one RBI, while Lipski and Brewer would both finish the day 3-for-5. Hayden was 2-for-4 at the plate on the afternoon with a double and a run scored.
Dan Graham got the nod on the hill today for XU and the junior surrendered only one run on six hits with five strikeouts but received the no-decision. Senior Matt Lucas came in to provide relief in the seventh inning and picked up the win as he threw two innings of two-hit baseball, while striking out one.
Xavier will return to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon against the Butler Bulldogs. The Musketeers will make the trek to Indianapolis for a 4:00 pm EST contest at Bulldog Park.
