Major Solid on Mound, Altenberger Perfect at Plate as Xavier Wins Series Finale Against Creighton, 12-8

Sunday, April 22

Hayden Field

12 p.m.

Xavier University

13-26, 0

Creighton

23-11, 0

Creighton

Xavier

Major Solid on Mound, Altenberger Perfect at Plate as Xavier Wins Series Finale Against Creighton, 12-8

04.22.18 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Statistics (PDF)

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Allbry Major gave Xavier baseball a big lift on Sunday, pitching a career-high seven innings and striking out a career-best nine as the Musketeers won their series finale against Creighton, 12-8, at Hayden Field.

Xavier improved to 13-26 (3-6 BIG EAST) to snap a four-game losing streak, while the Bluejays fell to 23-11 (3-5 BIG EAST).

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Tuesday, traveling to Northern Kentucky for a 3 p.m. ET game across the river.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Xavier has now homered at least once in seven of its past eight games.
• Chris Givin went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run triple, giving the junior shortstop a team-high four triples on the season. He has now reached base in 16 straight games.
• Ryan Altenberger was perfect on the day, going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and two walks.
• Natale Monastra was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and a homer from the cleanup spot. The longball was his second of the season.
• Conor Grammes (1-for-4), Joe Gellenbeck (1-for-4, 2 R), Nate Soria (1-for-3, R, 2B), Ryan Fournier (1-for-5, RBI) and Mitch Gallagher (1-for-2) also contributed hits for XU.
• Andrew Sexton came off the bench late and supplied a big squeeze bunt, which brough two runs across for the Musketeers.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Freshman Allbry Major got the start and came up big for the Musketeers, tossing a career-high seven innings and striking out a career-high nine. The righty recorded a career-high 120 pitches in the outing, allowing four earned runs. He improved to 2-3 on the season with the win.
• Evan Miller got two outs in the eighth, but Creighton put up three runs in the eighth after a costly error in center field.
• Matt Kent entered in relief, striking out a batter to end the eighth inning threat and closing out the win in the ninth.

HOW XU SCORED

SECOND INNING | A one out walk by Ryan Altenberger got things started and Nate Soria followed with double to right center. With runners on second and third, Ryan Fournier laced a ball up the middle to bring a run in and give XU a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Chris Givin singled to left to score Soria and Fournier then came home on a wild pitch to cap a three-run frame.
THIRD INNING | Natale Monastra led off with a solo homer to left, giving XU the lead back after Creighton rallied for three in the second inning. Ryan Altenberger batted next and doubled to right center, staying put as Nate Soria walked. After back-to-back fielder's choice plays, Soria crossed the plate to make it 5-3. Chris Givin then came up with a big two out triple to left center, capping a four-rNatale Monastra FOURTH INNING | Joe Gellenbeck walked and Natale Monastra singled to left to start the inning, both advancing on a wild pitch. After Ryan Altenberger walked to load the bases, Creighton made a pitching change. Nate Soria then grounded in to a double play, but Gellenbeck came home on the play to make it 8-4.
SIXTH INNING | A two out rally started with a Natale Monastra walk. Batting next, Ryan Altenberger connected for a double to right center to bring Monastra around all the way from first on a hit-and-run play.
EIGHTH INNING | With one out, Joe Gellenbeck singled to right center and was followed by a Natale Monastra walk. Ryan Altenberger then singled through the left side to load the bases with one out. A balk brought Gellenbeck home and Andrew Sexton followed with a squeeze bunt that brought a run home. A throw to first opened a window for Altenberger to score on the play as well, making it 12-7 Xavier.

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