Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
0-7
Mercer
6-1
Baseball Falls Short in Offensive Battle at Mercer
02.28.16 | Baseball
Musketeers score season-high 14, but suffer second straight weekend sweep
 | XU AT THE PLATE |
• After scoring 10 runs in the season's first six games, Xavier's offense exploded Sunday for a season-high 14 runs on 18 hits.
• Xavier also lit up the basepaths, stealing seven bases for a second straight game. Prior to this weekend, the last time XU swiped seven in a game came at Dayton on March 31, 2015. The Musketeers finished out the weekend with 17 steals.
• The Musketeers launched four home runs – their most since connecting for five against Georgetown on April 24, 2015.
• Six Musketeers posted multi-hit games, including Blaine Griffiths (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI), Dan Rizzie (2-for-6, 2 R), Joe Gellenbeck (2-for-4, HR, 3 R), Andre Jernigan (3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI), Will LaRue (4-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Rylan Bannon (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI).
• Bannon and Griffiths both launched their first-ever homers in a Xavier uniform. Both coming on two-run shots in the third inning.
• Rylan Bannon's two-hit day snapped an 0-for-16 streak to start the season.
| XU ON THE MOUND |
• While the bats woke up on Sunday, XU's pitchers labored for most of the afternoon. The Musketeers gave up their most runs since surrendering 17 to Northern Kentucky on April 22, 2014.
• The Musketeers used a total of five pitchers in the game and were hurt by walks all day, issuing 13 free passes. The 13 walks were the most given up by XU since Feb. 28, 2014 at Bradley.
• XU starter Trent Astle was lifted after 1.2 innings, allowing a career-high seven earned runs.
• Trey Schramm struck out four in 3.2 innings of relief.
• Jason Hall finished out the game with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three.
| HOW THE MUSKETEERS SCORED |
FIRST INNING: Dan Rizzie doubled with two outs and came around to score when Joe Gellenbeck reached on an error by the third baseman.
SECOND INNING: Nate Soria led off with a single and stole second, scoring on a two-run homer by Andre Jernigan. Will LaRue then singled, stole second and came around on a sacrifice fly by Matt Fallon.
THIRD INNING: Joe Gellenbeck singled to lead off the inning, stealing second and advancing to third on a single by Will LaRue. David Morton followed with a two-run single to right field. Rylan Bannon followed with a two-run homer. Batting next, Matt Fallon singled up the middle and came in to score on a two-run homer by Blaine Griffiths.
FOURTH INNING: Joe Gellenbeck led off the inning with a solo shot to right field.
EIGHTH INNING: Dan Rizzie singled up the middle to lead off the inning, while Joe Gellenbeck and Nate Soria followed with walks to load the bases. Andre Jernigan then singled to third base to plate Rizzie and Will LaRue followed with a two-run double down the right field line.
| NEXT UP |
• The Musketeers continue their season-opening road swing at USC Upstate next weekend, traveling to Spartanburg, S.C. for a three-game series from March 4-6.
• First pitch in the series is set for 4 p.m. on Friday, March 4.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Austin Lord (2-0)
L: Kirschner, Brad (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Rizzie, Daniel 1 ; LaRue, Will 1
HR: Griffiths, Blaine 1 ; Gellenbeck, Joe 1 ; Jernigan, Andre 1 ; Bannon, Rylan 1
RBI: Fallon, Matt 1 ; Griffiths, Blaine 2 ; Gellenbeck, Joe 1 ; Jernigan, Andre 3 ; LaRue, Will 2 ; Morton, David 2 ; Bannon, Rylan 2
SF: Fallon, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fallon, Matt 1 ; Griffiths, Blaine 1 ; Rizzie, Daniel 2 ; Gellenbeck, Joe 3 ; Soria, Nate 2 ; Jernigan, Andre 1 ; LaRue, Will 2 ; Morton, David 1 ; Bannon, Rylan 1
SB: Gellenbeck, Joe 1 ; Soria, Nate 1 ; Jernigan, Andre 1 ; LaRue, Will 2 ; Bannon, Rylan 2
CS: LaRue, Will 1
PO: LaRue, Will 1
Batting:
2B: Danny Edgeworth 1
HR: Ryan Hagan 1
RBI: Matt Meeder 1 ; Ryan Hagan 6 ; Charlie Madden 2 ; Danny Edgeworth 3 ; Howard Joe 2 ; Jose Hernandez 1 ; Trey Truitt 2
SH: Ryan Hagan 1
SF: Howard Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Matt Meeder 3 ; Ryan Hagan 2 ; Kyle Lewis 3 ; Charlie Madden 2 ; Danny Edgeworth 2 ; Jackson Ware 2 ; Hunter Bening 1 ; Jose Hernandez 1 ; Trey Truitt 2
CS: Trey Truitt 1
HBP: Charlie Madden 1 ; Trey Truitt 1
