Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Winthrop
Late Inning Rally Dooms Musketeers
02.17.07 | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2007
Box Score
ROCK HILL, S.C. - In game two of the series between Xavier and No. 24 Winthrop, the Musketeers could not hold back a tough Eagle offense late in the contest as XU fell, 8-2. Senior Bill Konecny made the most of his season debut on the mound allowing only two unearned runs in his six innings pitched. The loss drops the Musketeers to 0-2 on the season, while Winthrop improves to 6-2 and 5-0 at home.
Konecny took the mound for the Blue and White in the second game of the series and cruised through the first four innings without any problems. In the fifth inning, the Eagles finally got to the right-hander and took advantage of three hits and a costly XU error to score the first two runs of the game. After regrouping, Konecny retired the next three batters in the bottom of the sixth and gave way to the bullpen.
The Musketeers would respond with two runs of their own in the top of the seventh to knot the score at 2-2. Sean Farrell got the rally going after drawing the leadoff walk and later advanced to third after an Eagle error allowing Andy Zellers to reach second base with no outs. Jordan Wolf would drive in Farrell with a groundout to first and move Zellers to third with one out in the inning. Adam Pasono would follow with a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Zellers and restore parity.
After fighting back to tied the score, the Musketeers would again find out why the Eagles are ranked in the nation. Winthrop would start off the home half of the seventh with three-straight hits to score the go-ahead run and not look back. When the dust settled, XU had allowed six runs on five hits in the inning and the game was decided.
The Eagles' pitching staff would hold the Musketeers to three hits on the afternoon with all of them of the singles variety. Pasono, Neil Lindgren and Adam Lipski would each tally a hit in the game with Pasono and Wolf driving in XU's lone runs.
Konecny debuted in fine fashion allowing two runs, both unearned, in his six innings pitched. The senior also allowed seven hits while striking out two. Sophomore Brett Greenwell did not fare as well as he allowed all six of the runs in the seventh before giving way to Mark Janszen who retired the final five batters of the game.
The two teams will finish the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at the Winthrop Ballpark with the first pitch slated for 1:00 pm. Xavier's starting pitcher is still to be determined with the Eagles' giving the starting nod to the sophomore right-hander Jason Franzblau (1-1, 4.22 ERA).
