Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Charlotte
Xavier Suffers First Home Loss of the Season
05.03.07 | Baseball
May 3, 2007
CINCINNATI - A superb 8.0 inning, three-run effort by Xavier senior Bill Konecny was trumped by a one-run complete game by Charlotte's Adam Mills as XU was defeated for the first time at home this season, 3-1. In the Atlantic 10 series opener, the Musketeers outhit the 49ers, 9-6, but left nine runners on base. The loss drops Xavier to 21-25 on the season and 12-7 in the A-10, while Charlotte improves to 36-9 on the year and remains in first place at 16-3 in the conference.
Charlotte struck first with a solo homerun to left-center field by Brad McElroy. McElroy took the 1-0 offering from Konecny and drove it over the fence to give the 49ers a 1-0 advantage after two innings. The visitors would get another run in the next inning as a leadoff walk by Spencer Steedley turned into a run after a sacrifice bunt and ground out advanced him to third. He would cross the plate during the next at-bat after a wild pitch by Konecny made the score 2-0.
Xavier would threaten in the fifth inning after Robbie Kelley singled through the right side to get the inning started. Matt Waskerwitz would notch a two-out single after two groundouts to put runners at first and second before a single by Adam Pasono left the bases loaded. Mills would get the next batter, Pat Coffey, to swing into the inning-ending groundout to second to end the threat.
The 49ers would get their final run of the day in the top of the eighth when Kris Rochelle grounded into a double play to allow Cory Lane to score after he led off the inning with a single.
The Musketeers would load the bases again in the bottom of the ninth as Kelley led off the inning with another single before Neil Lindgren roped a double down the left field line to put runners at second and third with one out. Freshman Zac Richard then pinch hit and drew a walk to load the bases before Waskerwitz reached on a fielder's choice to allow Kelley to score XU's lone run.
Konecny made his 12th start of the season count as the senior threw 8.0 innings and scattered five hits, allowing only three earned. He tied a season-high of six strikeouts and only walked one batter. Kyle Cowden threw a scoreless ninth to keep the Musketeers within range allowing only one hit.
Charlotte's Mills was equally impressive as the senior picked up his 12th win of the season and threw the complete game nine-hitter, allowing only the one earned run in the ninth. That run broke up a streak of 21 scoreless innings thrown by Mills as he walked three and struck out five on the afternoon.
Three Musketeers had a multi-hit game as Pasono, Kelley and Lindgren each tallied two hits. Pasono finished 2-for-5, while Kelley and Lindgren went 2-for-4. Lindgren had the only extra-base hit for the Musketeers after his double in the ninth with Waskerwitz recording the only RBI for the Blue and White.
The 49ers' Shane Moody had two hits on the afternoon to lead the visitors.
The two teams will get back on the field tomorrow for game two of the three-game series at Hayden Field. The first pitch of the afternoon is slated for 2:30 pm. Xavier's Charlie Leesman (4-2, 3.84 ERA) will match up with the 49ers left-hander Spencer Steedley (6-1, 2.62 ERA).
