Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Rhode Island
Late Rally Not Enough As XU Falls To URI 8-7
04.20.12 | Baseball
April 20, 2012
KINGSTON, R.I. -- Xavier's late rally in the top of the ninth fell short as Atlantic 10 foe Rhode Island topped the Musketeers 8-7 Friday afternoon. With the loss, XU fell to 17-22 overall and an even 5-5 in A-10 play. URI, meanwhile, improved to 23-15 overall and 10-3 in the conference.
The Rams jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first four innings but a six-run top of the fifth gave the Musketeers a one-run edge. Mitch Elliott led off with a single and was brought home on a two-run home run by Daniel Rod. The homer was Rod's first of the season.
Mark Elwell's two-out single set up a bases-loaded RBI infield-single by freshman Derek Hasenbeck that kept the rally alive in the sixth inning. Selby Chidemo and Patrick Paligraf each scored on an error to give XU a 6-5 lead.
Rhode Island answered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the fifth to take a 8-6 lead.
Xavier looked to rally in the top of the ninth when Brian Bruening led off the inning with a single then moved into scoring position on a single by Seth Dawes. The XU sophomore pulled the Musketeers within one (8-7) as he crossed the plate on a RBI base hit by Elwell but it was not to be as the final two Musketeer batters flew out to end the game.
Vinny Nittoli (3-4) was pegged with the loss in 4.1 innings of action while Alex Westrick added 3.2 innings of shutout action in relief.
The Musketeers will look take the series Saturday as the two teams meet in a double-header beginning at 12 p.m.
