Baseball Falls to Furman in Pitcher's Duel, 1-0

Friday, February 20

Greenville, S.C.

5:00 PM

Xavier University

2-3

Furman

2-3

Xavier

Furman

Brad Kirschner was effective on the hill, extending his season-opening scoreless streak to 12.2 innings before allowing the go-ahead run in the eighth.

Baseball Falls to Furman in Pitcher's Duel, 1-0

02.20.15 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 20, 2015

Box Score | Box Score 

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Despite eight innings of one-run ball from sophomore Brad Kirschner, Xavier baseball dropped a 1-0 pitcher's duel on Friday against Furman to open the First Pitch Invitational at Latham Stadium.

The Musketeers (2-3) will return to the diamond tomorrow, facing Presbyterian at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Sophomore Brad Kirschner (1-1) went the distance for XU, scattering seven hits over eight innings of one-run ball. The game moved quickly, ending after just one hour and 53 minutes as the Paladins improved to 2-3. 

Furman got seven innings of shutout ball from starter Matt Solter, who allowed just two hits and struck out five before giving way to Elliott Warford. Warford slammed the door in relief, striking out five of the six batters he faced over the final two innings and improving to 2-0 with the win.

Kirschner, who went five shutout innings in his season debut last week, built up his season-opening scoreless streak to 12.2 innings before allowing the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth. 

After getting the first batter of the inning on a pop out to shortstop, Kirschner allowed a bunt hit and back-to-back singles. With the bases loaded, the lefty recovered to get FU's Cameron Whitehead to pop out to third. Blake Chisolm batted next and worked a two-out walk, forcing the go-ahead run across the plate.

Xavier got a leadoff hit down the left field line in the first from Selby Chidemo, but it was immediately erased by a double play ball. The Musketeers' other hit came in the third as Brian Bruening singled through the right side. Rylan Bannon sacrificed him over to second, but XU failed to manufacture a run after David Morton flied to left and Chidemo grounded out to end the inning.

The next nine XU batters were retired in order before Daniel Rizzie worked a leadoff walk in the seventh and advanced on a grounder to first. Again, however, a fly out and ground out ended the threat. FU's Warford then came on to close out the game, retiring all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth.