Xavier Baseball Falls in Midweek Showdown Against No. 6 Kentucky

Tuesday, March 20

Hayden Field

3 p.m.

Xavier University

7-13

No. 6 Kentucky

15-6

Kentucky

Xavier

Xavier Baseball Falls in Midweek Showdown Against No. 6 Kentucky

03.20.18 | Baseball

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

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier baseball got within one, 5-4, after the fourth inning before No. 6 Kentucky put up 15 unanswered runs to win 20-4 at Hayden Field on Tuesday. The game was called off after eight innings due to fading light and cold weather in the area.

The Musketeers dropped to 7-13 on the season, snapping a three-game win streak. The Wildcats (15-6) snapped a four-game losing streak with the win.

XU had held the Wildcats to just two runs in a 3-2, extra innings road win on Feb. 20, but it was a different story on Tuesday as UK clubbed a season-high seven homers.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action this weekend, beginning a three-game series at Indiana State at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 23 in Terre Haute, Ind.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Natale Monastra led the Musketeers with a 2-for-4 day at the dish, driving in a run.
• Chris Givin and Matt Warkentin were both 1-for-3 with an RBI apiece.
• Andrew Sexton (1-for-2, BB), Conor Grammes (1-for-2) and Ryan Altenberger (1-for-4, R) also recorded hits for XU.

XU ON THE MOUND

• XU's pitching struggled with command on Tuesday, allowing eight walks and throwing three wild pitches. UK capitalized with a season-high seven homers and 20 runs in the game.
• Nick Zwack got the start and went three innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out two.
• Evan Miller and Griffin Lanoue struggled in the middle innings as UK scored 12 runs.
• Senior Christian Glass came on to pitch the eighth, tossing a scoreless frame with a pair of strikeouts.

HOW XU SCORED

FIRST INNING | Ryan Altenberger laced a one out single up the middle, stealing second base and going to third on a ground out. A wild pitch then allowed Altenberger to cross the plate, which tied the game early at 1-1.
FOURTH INNING | Joe Gellenbeck led off the inning with a rocket off the wall in right, doubling to start a rally for XU. After Conor Grammes was hit by a pitch, Chris Givin singled to center to score Gellenebeck and make it 5-2. After a strikeout and a pitching change, Natale Monastra and Matt Warkentin combined for back-to-back RBI singles to make it a one run game at 5-4.

Billy O'Conner Announces Updates to the Baseball Staff

Wednesday, September 24

Xavier Baseball Announces Fall Schedule

Wednesday, September 03

Ethan Landon Joins Xavier Baseball Staff as Pitching Coach

Tuesday, July 08

Xavier Baseball Summer League Assignments

Tuesday, June 17

Next Event

Indiana State

L, 4-6

Mar 23 (Fri)

1 p.m.

Box Score Recap Listen Preview Live stats History

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Brad Schaenzer (1-1)

L: Zwack, Nick (0-4)

Kentucky

Batting:

2B: Troy Squires 1

HR: Ben Aklinski 1 ; Luke Becker 1 ; T.J. Collett 1 ; Luke Heyer 2 ; Kole Cottam 2

RBI: Troy Squires 2 ; Ben Aklinski 5 ; Luke Becker 2 ; T.J. Collett 4 ; Luke Heyer 5 ; Kole Cottam 2

Base Running:

RUNS: Tristan Pompey 1 ; Ryan Shinn 1 ; Troy Squires 1 ; Ben Aklinski 3 ; Luke Becker 3 ; T.J. Collett 3 ; Luke Heyer 2 ; Kole Cottam 3 ; Alex Rodriguez 3