Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Charlotte
Xavier Falls in Extra Innings to Charlotte, 12-7
05.04.07 | Baseball
May 4, 2007
CINCINNATI - In just the second extra-inning game in a week for Xavier, the Musketeers could not overcome a two-run homerun in the top of the ninth and were downed by visiting Charlotte, 12-7, in the second game of the Atlantic 10 series on Friday afternoon. The loss drops Xavier to 21-26 on the season and the Musketeers remain alone in fourth place at 12-8. The 49ers improve to 37-9 overall and 17-3 in conference action.
After allowing two quick runs in the top of the first, XU starter Charlie Leesman settled down and would scatter two hits over the next five innings to leave with a 4-2 lead.
XU would take its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth as the Musketeers rallied with a three-run inning to take the 3-2 advantage. Senior Chris Lozan started the scoring with a shot onto Victory Parkway for his first homerun of the season. Classmate Adam Lipski followed with a single and gave way to Robbie Kelley to earn his fourth homerun of the season as the junior sent a shot over the left field fence to give XU the 3-2 lead.
Xavier tacked on one more in the next inning as Matt Waskerwitz led off the inning with a double to right. After Adam Pasono gave himself up to move Waskerwitz to third, senior Jordan Wolf picked up his 30th RBI of the season as he singled up the middle and pushed the score to 4-2.
After a three-run sixth that saw eight Musketeers come to the plate moved the score to 7-2, Charlotte would follow by scoring 10 unanswered runs to eventually tie the game on a two-run homerun in the top of the ninth before posting a five-run 11th inning to push the game out of reach and take the 2-0 lead in the series.
Four Musketeers had two hits on the afternoon as Pasono, Lindgren, Kelley and Waskerwitz each had a multi-hit game. Kelley led the way with two RBIs with four other players tallying one RBI on the afternoon. Wolf had three walks on the afternoon, while picking up his 15th stolen base of the season.
Leesman started the game and had a rough first inning allowing two earned on three hits but settled down to finish with 5.2 innings pitched and allowed only those two runs on five hits, while striking out three with two walks. Freshman Zac Richard was tagged with the loss and blown save as the rookie allowed the two-run homer by Charlotte's Brad McElroy in the ninth inning.
The 49ers' Kris Rochelle had a perfect 5-for-5 day at the plate with a walk to lead the visitors and reliever Brian Hamilton improved to 5-1 on the season with the win.
The two teams will take the field tomorrow afternoon for the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm with Xavier's Michael Lucas getting the nod. Lucas will face Charlotte's Zach Rosenbaum.
