Baseball Takes 9-2 Win in Series Opener Against Butler

Friday, April 16

Cincinnati, Ohio

3:00 PM

Xavier University

12-14, 0

Butler

6-13, 0

Butler

Xavier

Baseball Takes 9-2 Win in Series Opener Against Butler

04.16.21 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Photos

Luke Stephenson homers twice; Nick Zwack goes 7.0 innings and picks up the win

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier baseball opened up four-game series against Butler with a 9-2 win over the Bulldogs at Hayden Field. Luke Stephenson collected four RBI on a pair of home runs and Nick Zwack went 7.0 innings in the start on the way to the win.

Xavier jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first three Butler scored runs in the fifth and eighth but the Musketeers continued to pad the lead with runs in the fifth and the seventh to take the 9-2 win. Xavier moved to 12-14 (3-1 BIG EAST), while Butler moved to 6-13 (1-4 BIG EAST). The Musketeers and the Bulldogs continue action on Saturday with a doubleheader, getting underway at noon at Hayden Field.

In game one of Xavier's Pledge It campaign to support Vs. Cancer, Xavier batters had 10 hits, and the Musketeers pitchers finished with six strikeouts. The campaign continues through the rest of the Butler series and through next weekend's series with UConn. For more information, visit GoXavier.com/VsCancer.

XU AT THE PLATE

Luke Stephenson hit a pair of home runs, a three-run shot in the third and a solo shot in the seventh inning. Stephenson finished with a team-high four RBI and extended his team-best on-base streak to 12 games.
Luke Franzoni hit two run homer in the fifth inning, finishing with two runs and two RBI. Franzoni also had a pair of walks.
Alex Helmin went 2-3 at the plate with a walk, scoring three runs. His reached-safely streak extends to eight games.
Garrett Schultz had a pair of hits, collecting an RBI.
Andrew Walker finished with a hit an RBI extending his hitting streak to seven games.
Jack Housinger reached safely for an ninth-straight game, getting on with a walk.
Ryan Altenberger and Grant Stephenson each had a hit, bringing the Musketeers' total to 10 for the game.

XU ON THE MOUND

Nick Zwack went 7.0 innings in the start, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out five with out a walk. Zwack picked up the win, his third of the season.
Griffin Lanoue entered in the eighth, going 2.0 innings with one earned run allowed on one hit with a strikeout.
Xavier's pitchers totaled six strikeouts for the game.

HOW THEY SCORED

2ND INNING | Alex Helmin and Luke Franzoni each walked to give the Musketeers two runners with two outs. Grant Stephenson singled through the left side to bring Helmin in and put Franzoni on second, putting Xavier up, 1-0. Andrew Walker singled up the middle to bring in Franzoni, Xavier 2-0.

3RD INNING | Ryan Altenberger led off the inning by being hit by a pitch, and Natale Monastra reached on a throwing error, advancing to second, with Altenberger advancing to third. Luke Stephenson homered to left field to bring in three runs, Xavier, 5-0.

Alex Helmin singled through the left side, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Garrett Schultz singled to left field to bring Helmin home, Xavier 6-0.

5TH INNING | Alex Helmin hit a one-out double, followed by a a homer to left field for Luke Franzoni to put Xavier ahead 8-1.

7TH INNING | Luke Stephenson led off the inning with a home run to left field, his second of the day, putting Xavier ahead 9-1.

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