Givin, Bullpen Power Xavier to Midweek Win Over Northern Kentucky

Tuesday, April 24

HIghland Heights, Ky.

3 p.m.

Xavier University

14-26

Northern Kentucky

10-28

Xavier

Northern Kentucky

Givin, Bullpen Power Xavier to Midweek Win Over Northern Kentucky

04.24.18 | Baseball

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

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Chris Givin drove in four and the Xavier bullpen twirled five innings of scoreless relief as Xavier baseball defeated Northern Kentucky, 7-5, across the river on Tuesday at Bill Aker Baseball Complex.

Xavier improved to 14-26 with a second straight win, while NKU dropped to 10-28 overall.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action at home on Wednesday, facing Eastern Kentucky at 3 p.m. at Hayden Field.
• New Xavier men's basketball coach Travis Steele will throw the first pitch and host a "block party" with free Skyline Chili available for students as part of the game.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Junior Chris Givin continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-5 with a run scored, four RBI and his fifth triple of the season. He has now reached base safely in 17 straight games.
• Senior Nate Soria had a huge game, going 4-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored.
• Freshman Allbry Major was 2-for-5 with an RBI double in the two hole.
• Joe Gellenbeck went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.
• Mitch Gallagher got the start at second base and went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.
• Matt Warkentin also had a hit, going 1-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a walk.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Three XU relievers -- Grey Harmon, Matt Kent and Evan Miller -- combined for five innings of shutout relief, striking out three and allowing just two hits.
• Freshman Griffin Lanoue got the ball and went four innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out three.
• Sophomore Grey Harmon came on in relief and was outstanding, allowing just one hit in 2.2 scoreless innings. The lefty came into the game with just 0.2 innings pitched this season and 1.1 innings pitched for his career.
• Matt Kent entered for the eighth and set NKU down in order with a strikeout before finishing off the game in the bottom of the ninth for his second straight save.

HOW XU SCORED

SECOND INNING | A Nate Soria single up the middle got things started, as the senior followed it with a steal of second base. With two outs, Mitch Gallagher singled down the right field line to give XU a 1-0 lead.
FOURTH INNING | Nate Soria singled to left center to begin the inning, stealing second and third as Ryan Fournier worked a walk to put runners at the corners. Matt Warkentin followed with a walk on a full count to load the bases before a one out single by Chris Givin scored a pair of Musketeers to make it 3-3. After a fielder's choice, Joe Gellenbeck singled through the right side to score Warkentin and give XU the lead.
FIFTH INNING | Again, it was Nate Soria starting the inning off with a single -- this time up the middle -- and getting a rally started. Matt Warkentin batted next and singled to right center to put runners on the corners. After a fielder's choice play erased Soria at the plate, Chris Givin cracked a triple to left center to score Mitch Gallagher and Warkentin. Allbry Major then came to the plate, doubling down the right field line to bring Givin home and make it 7-5.