Musketeers Extend Win Streak, Capture Series Opener Against Illinois State

Friday, March 24

Hayden Field

3 p.m.

Xavier University

12-10

Illinois State

5-14

Illinois State

Xavier

Musketeers Extend Win Streak, Capture Series Opener Against Illinois State

03.24.17 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Xavier won its fifth straight game on Friday, defeating the Redbirds, 9-8

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier baseball won its fifth straight game on Friday afternoon at Hayden Field, defeating Illinois State, 9-8, in the first of three home games versus the Redbirds.

The Musketeers moved to 12-10 overall, while Illinois State dropped to 5-14. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch slated for 11 a.m.

Mitch Gallagher drove in the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly before Taylor Williams closed the door in the top of the ninth to seal the win.

XU AT THE PLATE

• The Redbirds posted two more hits (13-11) than the Musketeers. Illinois State also left three more runners on base (8-5) and committed one more error (1-0).
• Conor Grammes was 3-for-4 with a run, while Rylan Bannon was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Mitch Gallagher and Joe Gellenbeck both added two RBI.
• Xavier had three stolen bases in the game, moving its season total to 29 (29-for-36). Rylan Bannon is now 7-for-7 on the base paths this season.
• Matt Fallon was 1-for-2 with two runs and a stolen base.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Zac Lowther got the start for the Musketeers, throwing 10 strikeouts in 5.1 innings of action. The senior southpaw has now thrown 10 or more strikeouts in back-to-back starts. He allowed eight hits and eight runs.
• Trey Schramm threw two scoreless innings, allowing five hits and throwing two strikeouts.
• Taylor Williams (2-0) picked up the win, throwing two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. He also did not allow a hit on the afternoon.

HOW XU SCORED

THIRD INNING: Joe Gellenbeck hit an RBI double down the right field line, scoring Mitch Gallagher from second base. Rylan Bannon hit a RBI single down the left field line on the next play to score Gellenbeck. The Musketeers scored their third and final run of the inning on a Nate Monastra single through the left side.
FOURTH INNING: Will LaRue crossed home plate on a passed ball by the Redbird catcher. Matt Fallon tied the game at five, scoring from third base on a ground out to the shortstop by Mitch Gallagher.
FIFTH INNING: Sam Flamini hit an RBI double to left field to score the first of two runs before crossing home plate later in the frame on a Nate Soria RBI ground out.
SIXTH INNING: Matt Fallon scored on a Joe Gellenbeck RBI ground out to second base.
EIGHTH INNING: Mitch Gallagher hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Conor Grammes for the game-winning run.

UP NEXT

Xavier completes the series against Illinois State on Saturday, March 25 with a doubleheader at 11 a.m.