Baseball Splits Season Series with Cincinnati

Monday, March 22

Cincinnati, Ohio

4:00 PM

Xavier University

5-9

Cincinnati

8-9

Xavier

Cincinnati

Photo by: Rooted Creative

Baseball Splits Season Series with Cincinnati

03.22.21 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

Musketeers fall 7-2 in series finale

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier took a 1-1 tie with Cincinnati into the bottom of the sixth, but a four-run inning for the Bearcats put UC out in front for good, taking game four of the series, 7-2, at UC Baseball Stadium on Monday evening. The season series finished even at 2-2.

After Cincinnati (8-9) took a one-run lead in the first inning, Xavier (5-9) responded with a run in the top of the next frame, holding in a 1-1 tie until a four-run sixth inning but Cincinnati out front. The Bearcats added two more to lead 7-1 headed to the ninth where the Musketeers' first four batters got aboard, brining in a run and forcing a pitching change with bases loaded and no outs, but UC got out of the jam to take the 7-2 win.

Xavier is back in action on Friday, traveling to Evansville for four games, starting Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET. A doubleheader is set for Saturday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET, and the series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET.

XU AT THE PLATE

Andrew Walker (1-3), played a part in both of the Musketeers' runs, getting on base in the second inning with a single to eventually score Xavier's first run, then picking up an RBI on a walk in the ninth inning.
Jared Cushing (1-4) hit a second inning single to put Walker in scoring position.
Kody Darcy picked up an RBI on a a sacrifice bunt to bring Walker in in the second inning.
Luke Stephenson took a pair of bases on balls, including one to lead off the ninth, eventually coming around to score. He's reached safely in eight-straight games, the longest current streak for the Musketeers. Stephenson finished the series with four RBI and four runs scored on three hits and four walks.
Alex Helmin also took a ninth-inning walk to help bring in a run. Helmin reached base in all four games against the Bearcats, posting .333/.500/.833 for the series with four hits and two walks, five RBI and three runs scored.
Natale Monastra (1-3) and Jonathan Kelly (1-4) each had a hit in the series finale.
Monastra was hit by a pitch in the ninth, helping load the bases and eventually bring in a run. He finished batting .308 against the Bearcats, collecting four hits, seven RBI and three runs.

XU ON THE MOUND

Connor Bailey made his first start as a Musketeer, giving up three hits in 5.0 innings of work and not allowing an earned run. Bailey struck out five along the way.
Xander Rojahn entered in the sixth inning going 0.1 innings, facing seven batters with four hits and three earned runs.
Michael Dillon came on for the final two outs of the sixth, going 1.2 innings total, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk.
Shawn Hepler made his first appearance in 2021 in the eighth inning, not allowing a hit or a walk and striking out one as he faced the minimum in 1.0 innings of work.

HOW THE SCORED

2ND INNING | Andrew Walker led off the inning with a single to left center, then Jared Cushing sent him to third with a single to right field, giving Xavier two on with one out. Kody Darcy sent Walker home home on a sacrifice bunt to tie the game at 1-1.

9TH INNING | Luke Stephenson fought back from being down 0-2 in the count to lead off the inning with a walk. Natale Monastra was hit by a pitch followed by walks for Alex Helmin and Andrew Walker to bring in a second run for the Musketeers, making it 7-2 Cincinnati.