Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Richmond
Xavier Drops Series Finale to Richmond 6-4
04.08.07 | Baseball
April 8, 2007
Box Score
RICHMOND, Va. - Xavier jumped on top first with a three-run first inning but could not hold on as Richmond charged back to score six unanswered runs to take the series finale, 6-4. The loss drops the Musketeers into a three-way tie for second place in the Atlantic 10 along with the Spiders and Fordham. XU falls to 12-20 on the season and 7-2 in the A-10, while the Spiders improve to 19-13 and 7-2 in conference action.
Adam Pasono led off the game with a walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Steve Brown. A wild pitch allowed Pasono to advance to third and then back to back homeruns by Sean Farrell and Adam Lipski put the Musketeers on the board 3-0.
Starter Michael Lucas would strand a runner on second to hold the Spiders scoreless in the first before the Xavier bats got going again in the second inning. Matt Waskerwitz started the top of the second by blasting his fourth double of the weekend and team-leading 12th of the season to right center. Pasono followed with a single through the left side to put runners at the corners with no outs. Brown then grounded into a double play to allow Waskerwitz to score and give the Musketeers a 4-0 advantage after four but that would be the last run to cross the plate for the Blue and White.
Richmond would respond by plating two in the bottom half of the second and continued with six unanswered runs to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run inning that chased Lucas from the game. The Spider bullpen responded by holding XU scoreless for the remainder of the game as UR junior, Brian Alas, picked up his eighth save of the season.
Waskerwitz continued to lead the offense with a 2-for-2 day at the plate to go with two walks. The senior ended the weekend with a .636 average and 1.000 slugging percentage in addition to seven hits, four doubles, and five RBIs. Junior Robbie Kelley tied Waskerwitz for team-high honors with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate, while Farrell had a team-high two RBIs in the loss.
Lucas suffered his fifth loss of the season and allowed all six runs in 4.2 innings. He gave up eight hits and four walks but struck out five of the 29 batters he faced. Mark Janszen came in to provide the last 3.1 innings of relief and did not allow a run but did have one of his inherited runners to cross the plate. The senior allowed three hits and struck out a season-high four in his relief effort.
The Musketeers will have two days off before returning to the field against crosstown rival Cincinnati on Wednesday night at Marge Schott Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm with the starters to be determined.
