Musketeers Hold Off Late Georgia Rally, Capture Series Opener, 8-7

Tuesday, March 7

Athens, Ga.

5 p.m.

Xavier University

6-6

Georgia

5-7

Xavier

Georgia

Musketeers Hold Off Late Georgia Rally, Capture Series Opener, 8-7

03.08.17 | Baseball

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

Joe Gellenbeck goes 4-for-4 with three RBI in the win

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

ATHENS, Ga. - Senior Joe Gellenbeck went 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI to lead the Xavier baseball team to an 8-7 win over the Georgia Bulldogs in the series opener between the two schools.

The Musketeers (6-6) held off a late Bulldog (5-7) rally as Georgia scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Sophomore closer Taylor Williams got the final Georgia batter to hit into a double play to end the comeback effort and earn his second save of the season.

The contest was a continuation of Tuesday's game that was suspended in the top of the seventh inning due to heavy rain in the area.

Game two of the series with the Bulldogs will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night at Foley Field.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Joe Gellenbeck went 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and a run to pace the Musketeers. He also added a double, his third of the season.
• Gellenbeck also extended his team-best hitting streak to nine games.
• Matt Fallon (2-for-6, R, RBI) and Mitch Gallagher (2-for-5, R) both added multi-hit games.
• Will LaRue was 1-for-3 with two runs and two stolen bases, increasing his season total to six.
• Gellenbeck and Nate Soria have both reached base in all 12 games this season for XU.
• Xavier collected 10 hits for the second time in as many games and the fifth time this season. The Musketeers have also had multiple stolen bases in a game six times this year.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Brad Kirschner lasted three innings in his start, allowing six hits and four earned runs while walking one.
• Matt Kent (3-0) followed with three scoreless innings of relief. The sophomore pitcher also posted a season-high five strikeouts.
Trey Schramm threw 2.1 innings of relief, surrendering three hits and three runs (two earned).
• Taylor Williams finished the game on the mound, getting the Bulldogs to hit into a double play to end the rally as he earned his second save of the season.

HOW XU SCORED

FIRST INNING: Joe Gellenbeck hit a one-out RBI single up the middle to score Matt Fallon.
THIRD INNING: Xavier scored four runs on four hits and two errors. Joe Gellenbeck hit an RBI single through the right side before crossing home plate, along with Rylan Bannon, later in the inning on a Bulldog error by the second baseman. Conor Grammes scored the final run on a sacrifice fly to left field by Blaine Griffiths.
FOURTH INNING: Joe Gellenbeck hit a one-out double down the right field line to score Will LaRue.
FIFTH INNING: Nate Soria scored the first of two runs on a fielder's choice. Mitch Gallagher scored Xavier's final run of the inning on a wild pitch.

UP NEXT

• Game two of the series with the Bulldogs will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night at Foley Field.