Xavier University Athletics
Sunday, May 1
Indianapolis, IN
2:30 p.m.
Xavier University
19-26, 6-3
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Butler
12-31, 3-9
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Xavier
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Butler
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Soria Knocks in Three to Lead Baseball to BIG EAST Sweep at Butler, 4-1
05.01.16 | Baseball
Astle tosses five solid innings to earn win as XU improves to 6-3 in league play
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Xavier baseball completed its weekend sweep of Butler, getting five strong innings from Trent Astle and three RBI from Nate Soria to win 4-1 on Sunday at Bulldog Park.
With a fifth straight win, XU improves to 19-26 (6-3 BIG EAST). Its the third weekend sweep of the season for Xavier and the first in BIG EAST play for the team since April 11-13, 2014 against Villanova. Xavier's five-game winning streak is also its longest since taking seven straight from April 10-19, 2013.
Butler fell to 12-31 overall and 3-9 in league play.
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· Nate Soria paced XU offensively with a 2-for-4 day, including a double and three RBI. The sophomore is hitting a team-best .355 (11-for-31) with 2 homers and seven RBI in BIG EAST action.
· Chris Givin reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and drawing a pair of walks.
· Dan Rizzie (1-for-5, R, 2B), Andre Jernigan (1-for-2, 2 R) and Matt Fallon (1-for-4) also collected hits for Xavier.
· Rizzie now has at least one hit and one run scored in each of his last six games.
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· Junior Trent Astle (2-4) turned in his best start of the season, limiting Butler to two hits and striking out one over five innings of one-run ball.
· Damien Richard and Taylor Williams combined to pitch four innings of scoreless relief. XU's bullpen finished the series allowing just one earned run in 10 innings, including 8.1 consecutive scoreless innings to end the weekend.
· Richard worked around a pair of hits and a walk to post two scoreless innings. The sophomore righty lowered his ERA to 2.16 in 25 relief innings this season.
· Williams earned his first career save, pitching the final two innings and striking out one.Â
· Xavier's pitching staff finished the weekend with a 1.00 ERA (27 IP, 3 ER) covering all three games.
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FOURTH INNING:Â Joe Gellenbeck reached after getting plunked with one out, moving to second on a single by Andre Jernigan. Nate Soria followed with a double to left, plating both and giving Xavier a 2-0 lead.
FIFTH INNING:Â Dan Rizzie doubled down the left field line with one out before Andre Jernigan worked a two out walk. With two on and two out, Soria came up big with a single to left center to score Rizzie. Chris Givin followed with a bunt single to plate Jernigan and make it 4-0 Xavier.
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· Xavier remains on the road next weekend, visiting Seton Hall for a three-game set. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, May 6.Â
With a fifth straight win, XU improves to 19-26 (6-3 BIG EAST). Its the third weekend sweep of the season for Xavier and the first in BIG EAST play for the team since April 11-13, 2014 against Villanova. Xavier's five-game winning streak is also its longest since taking seven straight from April 10-19, 2013.
Butler fell to 12-31 overall and 3-9 in league play.
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 | Â XU AT THE PLATE |
· Nate Soria paced XU offensively with a 2-for-4 day, including a double and three RBI. The sophomore is hitting a team-best .355 (11-for-31) with 2 homers and seven RBI in BIG EAST action.
· Chris Givin reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and drawing a pair of walks.
· Dan Rizzie (1-for-5, R, 2B), Andre Jernigan (1-for-2, 2 R) and Matt Fallon (1-for-4) also collected hits for Xavier.
· Rizzie now has at least one hit and one run scored in each of his last six games.
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| Â XU ON THE MOUND |
· Junior Trent Astle (2-4) turned in his best start of the season, limiting Butler to two hits and striking out one over five innings of one-run ball.
· Damien Richard and Taylor Williams combined to pitch four innings of scoreless relief. XU's bullpen finished the series allowing just one earned run in 10 innings, including 8.1 consecutive scoreless innings to end the weekend.
· Richard worked around a pair of hits and a walk to post two scoreless innings. The sophomore righty lowered his ERA to 2.16 in 25 relief innings this season.
· Williams earned his first career save, pitching the final two innings and striking out one.Â
· Xavier's pitching staff finished the weekend with a 1.00 ERA (27 IP, 3 ER) covering all three games.
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| Â HOW XU SCORED |
FOURTH INNING:Â Joe Gellenbeck reached after getting plunked with one out, moving to second on a single by Andre Jernigan. Nate Soria followed with a double to left, plating both and giving Xavier a 2-0 lead.
FIFTH INNING:Â Dan Rizzie doubled down the left field line with one out before Andre Jernigan worked a two out walk. With two on and two out, Soria came up big with a single to left center to score Rizzie. Chris Givin followed with a bunt single to plate Jernigan and make it 4-0 Xavier.
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| Â UP NEXT |
· Xavier remains on the road next weekend, visiting Seton Hall for a three-game set. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, May 6.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Astle, Trent (2-4)
L: NAPOLEON, Bobby (0-5)
S: Williams, Taylor (1)
Batting:
2B: Rizzie, Daniel 1 ; Soria, Nate 1
RBI: Soria, Nate 3 ; Givin, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rizzie, Daniel 1 ; Gellenbeck, Joe 1 ; Jernigan, Andre 2
HBP: Gellenbeck, Joe 1 ; Jernigan, Andre 1
Batting:
2B: MARRAS, Chris 1
HR: MARRAS, Chris 1
RBI: MARRAS, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MARRAS, Chris 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
RHP
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