Musketeers Clinch Spot in BIG EAST Tournament with Win at Villanova

Friday, May 10

Villanova, Pa.

3 PM

Xavier University

22-27, 11-4

Villanova

13-34, 4-9

Xavier

Villanova

Musketeers Clinch Spot in BIG EAST Tournament with Win at Villanova

05.10.19 | Baseball

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

Natale Monastra goes 4-of-4 at the plate, scores two run

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. -- After going ahead early, Xavier baseball reclaimed the lead late to take the 7-6 win in the series opener at Villanova on Friday afternoon. Natale Monastra went 4-of-4 at the plate as the Musketeers moved to 22-27 on the season.

With the win, Xavier moves to 11-4 in BIG EAST play and secures a berth to the BIG EAST Tournament, held at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio from Thursday, May 23 to Sunday, May 26. This is the fourth time in Xavier's six seasons in the BIG EAST that the Musketeers have qualified for the four-team tournament.

Xavier took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and held the lead until the bottom of the third when a pair of Wildcat runs tied the game 2-2. Xavier immediately responded with a four-run top of the fourth, including a solo homer for Ryan Altenberger, to take a 6-2 lead.

VU responded with a four run sixth to tie the game, 6-6. The tie held until the bottom of the eighth when Xavier manufactured the game-winning run, setting the final score at 7-6.

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.

XU AT THE PLATE

Natale Monastra went 4-of-4 at the plate, scoring a pair of runs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth. Four hits is a season-high for Monastra, and the most for the junior since going 5-of-6 in the series opener with Villanova in 2018.
Chris Givin went 3-of-5 at the plate, collecting two RBIs and grabbing two of Xavier's three stolen bases on the day. Jake Shepski had the third.
Conor Grammes finished 3-of-5 at the plate, his 18th multi-hit game of the season and his fourth game with three hits this season.
Jake Shepski went 2-of-4 at the plate with a walk, collecting two RBIs and scoring a pair.
Ryan Altenberger's (1-of-5) fourth-inning homer was his fifth of the season.
Allbry Major collected an RBI on a walk, one of two walks for the Musketeers on the day.
Matt Warkentin and Ryan Fournier each contributed a hit, with Warkentin collecting an RBI. Xavier finished with 15 hits.

XU ON THE MOUND

Damien Richard made the start, going 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks.
Trevor Olson entered with one out in the sixth, pitching 1.2 innings, with three strikeouts on one run allowed on two hits and a walk. Olson picked up the win, his second of the season.
Lane Flamm pitched the final two innings, facing the minimum and allowing no runs on no hits while striking out a pair to pick up his seventh save of the season.

HOW THEY SCORED

FIRST INNING | Conor Grammes led off with a single up the middle, then advanced to second on a Jake Shepski single to center field. A throwing error on the VU catcher allowed Grammes and Shepski to advance a base, putting two runners in scoring position for Chris Givin who singled up the middle to put Xavier ahead, 2-0.

FOURTH INNING | After VU tied the game in the bottom of the third, Ryan Altenberger hit a solo shot to right field to reclaim the lead for Xavier, 3-2. With one out, Natale Monastra single through the right side, then a double for Conor Grammes put two runners in scoring position for Jake Shepski, who singled to bring in a pair of runs, making the Xavier lead 5-2. After Shepski stole second, a Matt Warkentin single brought him home to extend the Xavier lead to four, 6-2.

EIGHTH INNING | With two outs, Natale Monastra singled to left field, then moved to third as Conor Grammes reached on an error. Jake Shepski walked to load the bases for Allbry Major, who also took a base on base on balls to bring Monastra home, putting Xavier ahead, 7-6.