Baseball Secures Delayed Game One Win Against Morehead State, 7-1

Friday, April 8

Hayden Field

3 P.M.

Xavier University

11-19

Morehead State

17-13

Morehead State

Xavier University

Baseball Secures Delayed Game One Win Against Morehead State, 7-1

04.09.16 | Baseball

Box Score

Musketeer finish out win after play was suspended in the seventh on Friday afternoon

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletics Communication

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Xavier baseball put the final touches on a 7-1, rain-delayed victory over Morehead State on Saturday afternoon at Hayden Field.

First pitch in the game was delivered on Friday, but play was suspended in the bottom of the seventh and resumed at 1 p.m. ahead of Saturday's prior-scheduled game against the Eagles.

Sophomore lefty Zac Lowther was superb over the first seven, allowing just one run before Mother Nature disrupted play with the Musketeers leading, 5-1.

XU picked up where it left off on Saturday, however, getting two scoreless innings from Taylor Williams and adding two runs to close out the win.

Xavier improved to 11-19 overall with the win, while Morehead State dropped to 17-13 overall.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Dan Rizzie went 1-for-5 with a run scored to continue his personal nine game hitting streak. The senior catcher is batting .411 (23-for-56) with four homers in his last 14 starts.
• Rylan Bannon (2-for-3, BB) continued to rake, extending his hitting streak to nine straight games. The sophomore third baseman is batting .419 (13-for-31) during the streak.
• Joe Gellenbeck (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI) smashed two RBI doubles and worked a walk, scoring twice in a solid offensive performance. He is now tied for the team lead with six multiple RBI games.
• Will LaRue (2-for-5, 2 R) also had a multi-hit game, recording his team-leading 21st stolen base in the bottom of the eighth.
• Chris Givin (1-for-3, R, RBI) and Matt Fallon (1-for-4) also recorded hits for Xavier. Fallon has now reached base in 25 of 30 games this season.
• XU worked eight walks, giving the team 30 free passes in its last six games.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Starter Zac Lowther was dynamite, tying a season-high with seven innings of one-run ball. The sophomore struck out three and scattered five hits to pick up his fourth win of the season.
• Lowther leads the rotation with a 2.70 ERA, 50 innings pitched, 44 strikeouts and has lasted at least six innings in seven of his eight starts this season.
• Taylor Williams finished out the final two innings in scoreless fashion on Saturday, putting up his second straight clean appearance. The freshman righty has allowed just one hit in his last four innings of work, striking out three.

HOW THE MUSKETEERS SCORED

SECOND INNING: Chris Givin doubled to lead off the frame, moving to third on a throwing error and scoring on an RBI ground out by Nate Soria.
SIXTH INNING: Dan Rizzie singled with one out, advancing on a wild pitch and scoring on an RBI double down the right field line by Joe Gellenbeck. Andre Jernigan, Chris Givin and Blaine Griffiths then all walked in succession to plate another run. Nate Soria capped the scoring at three in the frame by lofting a sacrifice fly to right to make it 4-1.
SEVENTH INNING: Will LaRue doubled to left to lead off the inning, advancing to third on a fly out by Dan Rizzie. Joe Gellenbeck and Andre Jernigan then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Chris Givin batted next and pushed across another run on a sacrifice fly. Blaine Griffiths then walked to re-load the bases before play was called on Friday. On Saturday, Ethan Schmidt worked a walk to make it 6-1 before a foul out closed the rally.
EIGHTH INNING: Matt Fallon led off with a single to center, but was retired on a fielder's choice by Will LaRue. LaRue swiped second with one out, coming around to score on a double to right by Joe Gellenbeck.