Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Western Carolina
Big Offensive Day Cannot Push Xavier Over Hump
03.09.07 | Baseball
March 9, 2007
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - An offensive outburst by Xavier did not result in the Musketeers on the right side of the scoreboard as host Western Carolina took game one of the three game series, 9-4. Four Musketeers posted two or more hits on the afternoon but three costly XU errors and 15 hits by the Catamounts left too large of a margin for Xavier to overcome. The Musketeers now fall to 1-13 on the season and WCU improves to 8-5 overall.
The Catamounts would post six unanswered runs before Xavier would finally cross the plate in the top of the fifth. A walk by Jordan Wolf would be capitalized on after the senior reached second due to a wild pitch. After Xavier's only extra-base hit, a double by Adam Lipski, Wolf would cross the plate to leave the score at 6-1 after four and a half.
A costly error would push the deficit back to six runs after the bottom of the fifth.
Xavier responded by scoring a run in three of the last four innings but it was already too late. A bases loaded single by Wolf would score the second Xavier run, while Robbie Kelley recorded a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh and had an RBI groundout in the ninth to round out the XU line.
Senior Andy Zellers tied his career high with three hits for the third time in his career. Zellers finished the afternoon 3-for-5 with a run scored. Kelley took team-high honors with two RBIs, while Wolf and Lipski each recorded one RBI apiece.
Michael Lucas took the loss on the mound going 3.0 innings and allowing five earned on eight hits with two strikeouts. Joe Kohler and David Harman provided the relief as each surrendered an earned run with Hartman striking out two of the nine batters he faced.
The Musketeers and Catamounts will take the field for the second game in the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium. XU will have senior Bill Konecny (0-2, 1.69 ERA) on the mound, while Western Carolina will send righty Brock Thornburg (1-1, 5.79 ERA).
