Baseball Drops Slugfest in Series Opener at Samford

Friday, February 22

Birmingham, Ala.

6:30 PM

Xavier University

0-4

Samford

2-2

Xavier

Samford

Baseball Drops Slugfest in Series Opener at Samford

02.22.19 | Baseball

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

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Comunications

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Xavier baseball got in a big hole early, battling back but ultimately falling 10-7 to Samford on Friday in a weekend opener at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

The Musketeers fell to 0-4 to start the season, while the Bulldogs improved to 2-2.

XU hit five home runs in the game after being held without a longball in last weekend's season-opening series at No. 7 UNC.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Saturday, facing Samford in game two of the series at 1 p.m. ET. Sophomore Nick Zwack will get the ball for the Musketeers.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Matt Warkentin had a huge game, going 3-for-5 with a pair of homers. After going 0-for-10 to start the weekend at UNC, the senior rebounded in a big way with four RBI and two runs scored on Friday.
• Senior Chris Givin put together a 3-for-5 effort at the plate.
• Junior Conor Grammes was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and a solo homer.
• Junior Natale Monastra also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with his first homer of the season.
• Grad student Jake Shepski was 1-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a solo homer.
• Xavier worked just two walks in the game and struck out nine times collectively.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Junior Conor Grammes got the start and lasted 3.2 innings, allowing 10 earned runs and striking out six.
• Senior Matt Kent was outstanding in relief, coming on to toss 4.1 scoreless and hitless innings. The righty walked two, but struck out seven to help keep Xavier in the game.

HOW XU SCORED

SECOND INNING | Matt Warkentin led off the inning with a solo home run to right field, giving XU a 1-0 lead.
THIRD INNING | With two outs, Jake Shepski and Conor Grammes launched back-to-back solo homers to make it a 7-3 game.
SEVENTH INNING | Matt Warkentin blasted his second homer of the game to dead center with two aboard, bringing Jake Shepski and Chris Givin around to make it 10-6. With two outs, Natale Monastra connected for a solo shot to right field to make it a three-run game.