Baseball Wraps Up Spring Break Trip with Loss to New Mexico State

Sunday, March 17

Glendale, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Xavier University

6-11

New Mexico State

15-4

Xavier

New Mexico State

Baseball Wraps Up Spring Break Trip with Loss to New Mexico State

03.17.19 | Baseball

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

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Xavier baseball fell 6-4 to New Mexico State on Sunday night at Camelback Ranch, wrapping up its spring break trip at the spring training home of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Xavier rallied for three runs in the seventh inning, but came up just short in a fourth straight loss.

The Musketeers return to action on Tuesday, playing Kentucky on the road. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Xavier dropped to 6-12 overall with the loss, dropping seven of eight on its trip out west. One of the top offensive teams in the country statistically, New Mexico State improved to 15-4 overall.

XU AT THE PLATE

• Xavier collected more walks (9) than hits (8) in the game, but left 11 runners on base.
• Chris Givin continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with a run and a walk out of the leadoff spot. The senior was coming off a career-best 6-for-7 outing on Saturday.
• Givin is now batting 14-for-24 (.583) in his last five games with five runs scored and four RBI, lifting his season batting average from .264 all the way to .364.
• Matt Warkentin went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
• Jake Shepski was 0-for-1, but scored a run and drew four walks at the plate.
• Ryan Altenberger (1-for-5, R), Allbry Major (1-for-2), Andrew Sexton (1-for-3) and Jack Housinger (1-for-4, RBI) also contributed hits for XU.

XU ON THE MOUND

• Junior Conor Grammes pitched 4.2 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out six but allowing five unearned runs and five walks.
• Freshman Lane Flamm came on to log 2.1 innings and strike out one in relief. The righty surrendered three hits and one unearned run.
• Grad transfer Jake Shepski made his XU debut on the mound, getting the last three outs by working around a hit to close things out.

HOW THEY SCORED

FIFTH INNING | Chris Givin led off with a walk and went to second on a base hit by Andrew Sexton. A Jake Shepski walk would load the bases with one out for Luke Stephenson, who grounded out to score Givin and get XU on the board.
SEVENTH INNING | Ryan Altenberger singled through the right side and advanced to second before a ground out put him on third. With one out, Jake Shepski and Conor Grammes worked walks to load the bases. Jack Housinger then worked a 3-1 count before walking to bring Altenberger home. Matt Warkentin followed with an RBI single to make it a 6-3 game. Natale Monastra was then hit by a pitch to bring Grammes home, but the rally ended with three on as Ryan Fournier struck out to end the frame.