Xavier Comes from Behind to Claim Series Opener with Butler

Thursday, April 18

Hayden Field

3 PM

Xavier University

15-23, 6-1

Butler

18-17, 2-5

Butler

Xavier

Xavier Comes from Behind to Claim Series Opener with Butler

04.18.19 | Baseball

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

Musketeers win on a walk-off walk by Jack Housinger

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier baseball erased a five-run deficit late to pick up the walk-off win, 6-5, over Butler at Hayden Field. The Musketeers move to 15-23 overall and 6-1 in BIG EAST play.

Butler took a one-run lead in the second inning and pushed its advantage to four with a three-run fifth. Another run in the sixth pushed the Butler advantage to five headed to the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Xavier tallied four runs on a two-run homer for Conor Grammes and a two-RBI single for Matt Warkentin. A solo shot for Luke Franzoni in the eight sent the game to the ninth tied, 5-5. Xavier manufactured a run, with Jack Housinger collecting the winning RBI on a walk, to claim the win.

The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader. Game two, originally scheduled for 3 PM on Friday, will begin at noon. Game three of the series, originally set for Saturday at one, will follow on Friday afternoon.

XU AT THE PLATE

Luke Franzoni went 3-of-3 at the plate, collecting an RBI and a run on his sixth home run of the season, matching for team-high. Franzoni also took a base on balls.
Conor Grammes went 2-of-3 at the plate, with a pair of walks. Grammes collected a pair of RBIs on his sixth home run of the season, matching Matt Warkentin and Luke Franzoni for team-high. Grammes also scored the winning run on the walk-off walk.
Chris Givin went 1-of-3 at the plate with a pair of walks.
Jack Housinger's walk-off walk was one of seven bases on balls for the Musketeers. Housinger collected an RBI on the run scored.
Matt Warkentin (1-of-5) collected a pair of RBIs
Natale Monastra (1-of-4), Kody Darcy (1-of-4) and Allbry Major (1-of-5) also contributed a hit as the Musketeers collected 10 on the day.

XU ON THE MOUND

Damien Richard went a season-high seven innings in the start, allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out seven.
Nick Zwack entered in the eighth, sitting the Bulldogs down in order.
Lane Flamm pitched the ninth, allowing no runs on one hit with one strikeout. Flamm picked up the win, his second of the season.

HOW THEY SCORED

SEVENTH INNING | Kody Darcy reach on a fields choice to give Conor Grammes a baserunner. Grammes hit a homer to left center to get the Musketeers on the board, 5-2. With two outs, Jake Shepski walked, and Allbry Major singled to putt runners on the corners. After Major took second on a wild pitch, Matt Warkentin singled to left field to bring Shepski and Major home, cutting the Butler lead to one, 5-4.

EIGHTH INNING | With one out in the inning, Luke Franzoni shot a no-doubter over the wall in left center to tie the game, 5-5.

NINTH INNING | Conor Grammes led the inning off with a single, and advanced to second when Jake Shepski was hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch push both runners into scoring position, leaving first base open, the Bulldogs intentionally walked Chris Givin to load the bases with two outs. Jack Housinger took a base on balls to bring Grammes home to seal the 6-5 win for the Musketeers.

HIGHLIGHTS