Zwack's Strong Start, Pair of Homers Lead Xavier Baseball to 11-1 Win at Penn State

Friday, May 11

University Park, PA

2:00 p.m.

Xavier University

17-33

Penn State

12-31

Xavier

Penn State

Zwack's Strong Start, Pair of Homers Lead Xavier Baseball to 11-1 Win at Penn State

05.11.18 | Baseball

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

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Nick Zwack turned in an impressive start and was backed by homers off the bats of Ryan Fournier and Joe Gellenbeck as Xavier baseball evened its weekend series against Penn State with an 11-1 win on Friday at Medlar Field.

After two scoreless innings for both teams, the Musketeers exploded for six runs in the top of the third and never looked back in a game that was called after seven innings due to an agreed upon 10-run rule.

With the win, Xavier improved to 17-33. Penn State dropped to 12-31.

UP NEXT

• Xavier finishes off the series immediately, facing off with Penn State in the series finale at 4:45 p.m. ET.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Xavier bashed two homers, collecting 15 hits and 11 runs. It was XU's fifth double-digit scoring outburst of the season and first since a 12-run performance against Creighton on April 22.
• Joe Gellenbeck homered for the eighth time this season, hammering a three-run shot in the third inning as part of a 1-for-4 day.
• The grad student now has 32 career homers for XU, which ranks tied for sixth in program history (Scott Gordon, 1986-89). His three RBI gave him 149 for his career, tying him for sixth all-time with Mike Sak (1994-97).
• Chris Givin went 3-for-5 with a run scored, a double and an RBI.
• Ryan Fournier had a big game, scoring a career-high three times and going 3-for-4 with a solo homer. He also stole his first career base.
• Sam Flamini made his second straight start and went 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored.
• Blaine Griffiths was 2-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and his first career triple.
• Nate Soria knocked in three runs for the two hole, going 1-for-4 with a run scored.
• Mitch Gallagher also had a hit, finishing the game 1-for-4.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Freshman Nick Zwack (2-5) turned in the finest start of his XU career to date, pitching a career-high seven innings and allowing just one earned run. The lefty struck out four and scattered three hits, while walking just one.

HOW XU SCORED

THIRD INNING | Xavier put together four straight singles to open the inning, as Ryan Fournier led off with a base hit up the middle. Sam Flamini followed with a hit to left and both runners advanced on an infield hit by Chris Givin. Batting next, Nate Soria dumped a single into left field to score Flamini and Fournier. After the inning's first out, Matt Warkentin kept the single train going with a hit through the left side to score Givin. With two on, Joe Gellenbeck connected for a three-run homer to right field to make it 6-0.
SIXTH INNING | Ryan Fournier reached on an infield hit with one out, stealing second base before a walk by Sam Flamini put two aboard. Chris Givin batted next and doubled to left field to score Fournier. Nate Soria then lofted a ball into foul territory in right, which was caught and allowed Flamini to tag and score. Xavier would end the inning with two runs on two hits and leading 8-0.
SEVENTH INNING | Matt Warkentin singled up the middle to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a foul out and a pitching change, Blaine Griffiths smacked a triple to right center to score Warkentin. A wild pitch then scored Griffiths to make it 10-1. With two outs in the inning, Ryan Fournier smashed a solo homer to left field for his second of the year.