Kent Solid Out of Bullpen, Gellenbeck Homers in Series Opening Win for Xavier Baseball

Friday, May 4

Indianapolis, Ind.

4 p.m.

Xavier University

16-29, 5-8

Butler

27-14, 4-5

Xavier

Butler

Kent Solid Out of Bullpen, Gellenbeck Homers in Series Opening Win for Xavier Baseball

05.04.18 | Baseball

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

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS - Matt Kent tossed 6.2 strong innings out of the bullpen and Joe Gellenbeck hit a crucial three-run homer in the seventh inning as Xavier rallied to knock off Butler, 9-6, to open a BIG EAST weekend series on Friday at Bulldog Park.

Xavier improved to 16-29 (5-8 BIG EAST) with the win, while the Bulldogs dropped to 27-14 overall (4-5 BIG EAST).

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to the diamond on Saturday at 1 p.m., facing Butler in game two of the weekend series.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Xavier got homers from Matt Warkentin and Joe Gellenbeck and now has at least one homer in 13 of its last 15 outings. The Musketeers are up to 51 longballs as a team this season, which leads the BIG EAST and ranks in the top-40 nationally.
• Joe Gellenbeck was 1-for-3, but had the big blast with a three-run homer in the seventh inning that put XU up 8-5. The fifth year slugger also scored twice and walked. He has now homered in back-to-back games and is up to seven homers on the year.
• Conor Grammes was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI, coming up with a game-tying single with two outs in the seventh inning. The sophomore has now hit in 11 straight games and the two-hit game gave him 20 multi-hit performances this season.
• Natale Monastra was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.
• Matt Warkentin finished the day 1-for-4 with a solo homer. The longball was his 13th of the season and the junior has now homered in four straight games.
• Chris Givin (1-for-5, R) and Allbry Major (1-for-4, RBI) also added hits for XU.
• Nate Soria was 0-for-3 in the two spot, but scored twice after drawing a pair of walks. The senior catcher was also 2-for-2 in stolen bases for the day.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Senior Damien Richard got the start and went 2.1 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out three.
• Junior Matt Kent got the win in relief, going 6.2 strong innings. The righty allowed just one earned run and struck out two, while scattering four hits.

HOW XU SCORED

FIRST INNING | Chris Givin singled up the middle to start the inning off, moving up on a wild pitch and then going to third and eventually scoring on two passed balls. Following a Joe Gellenbeck walk, Allbry Major singled up the middle to score him from second and give XU a 2-0 lead.
THIRD INNING | Nate Soria led off with a walk and stole second and third base before coming around to score on a ground ball to the right side of the infield.
FOURTH INNING | Matt Warkentin swatted a solo homer to right field with one out in the inning, making it a 5-4 game.
SEVENTH INNING | Ryan Altenberger walked to lead off the inning, going to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Fournier. After Altenberger stole third, Nate Soria worked a two out walk and Conor Grammes singled through the left side to score Altenberger. With two outs and the score tied, Joe Gellenbeck followed with a three-run homer to right field to give XU an 8-5 lead.
EIGHTH INNING | Natale Monastra doubled to right center to lead things off, going to third on a ground out by Ryan Altenberger and coming around to score on a wild pitch.