Musketeers Split Sunday Doubleheader with UConn

Sunday, April 25

Cincinnati, Ohio

12 PM

Xavier University

15-15, 0

Connecticut

16-13, 0

UCONN

Xavier

Musketeers Split Sunday Doubleheader with UConn

04.25.21 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (Game 1)Box Score (Game 2)Photos

Series continues on Monday at 3:00 p.m.

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier baseball split a Sunday doubleheader with UConn, taking the series opener, 5-0, in game one and falling 8-5 in game two to even the series at 1-1. Game three with the Huskies is set for Monday at 3:00 p.m. and the series wraps up on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m at Hayden Field.

In game one, Xavier took the early lead, scoring a pair in the bottom of the first, which was all Xavier would need on the strength of Nick Zwack's 7.0 shutout performance in the start. Xavier played add-on in the fifth and sixth, including a homer from Garrett Schultz to set the final score at 5-0.

In the second game, the Huskies struck first, putting up three runs in the third. Xavier countered with a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth, both coming on a Jack Housinger homer, but the Huskies added runs in the fifth and eighth to take an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Xavier added a pair of runs on a two-run homer from Luke Stephenson to set the final score at 8-5.

Six games into Xavier's eight-game Pledge It campaign to support Vs. Cancer, the Musketeers have collected 50 hits while Xavier pitchers have 53 strikeouts.

Xavier moved to 15-16 overall and 6-2 in BIG EAST play, while UConn moved to 17-13 overall and 3-1 in BIG EAST play.

SCORING RECAP (GAME 1)

1ST INNING | Andrew Walker took a lead-off walk, and advanced to second on a Jack Housinger single. A fielder's choice from Ryan Altenberger put runners on the corners, with Housinger out at second. Natale Monastra used a bunt single to bring in an RBI, putting Xavier ahead, 1-0. With Altenberger on second and Monastra on first, Luke Stephenson doubled down the left field line to make it 2-0 Xavier.

5TH INNING | Andrew Walker took a one-out walk, and Ryan Altenberger was intentionally walked after Walker stole second. Natale Monastra was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Luke Stephenson was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, making it 3-0 Xavier.

6TH INNING | Garrett Schultz hit a solo home run to lead off the inning, making it 4-0 Xavier. Luke Franzoni singled to left field and, after Jack Krumbach came in to pinch run for Franzoni, Andrew Sexton singled to put runners on first and second. Jack Housinger put the ball in play, reaching on a fielder's choice, allowing Krumbach to come home, making it 5-0 Xavier.

SCORING RECAP (GAME 2)

4TH INNING | Ryan Altenberger was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then advanced to second on a ground ball from Natale Monastra. Altenberger took third on a failed pick-off attempt, then came home on an Alex Helmin double, making it 3-1 UConn.

5TH INNING | With two outs, Andrew Walker was hit by a pitch, giving Jack Housinger a base runner. Housinger homered to right to bring in two runs and tie the game 3-3.

9TH INNING | Natale Monastra singled to lead off the inning and Luke Stephenson homered to left field to bring in two runs, cutting UConn's lead to 8-5.

XU AT THE PLATE

Luke Stephenson led the Musketeers with three RBI on the day, going 1-2 with an RBI double in game one, and 1-3 with a walk, scoring a run and collecting two RBI on a ninth inning home run in game two. Stephenson matches Luke Franzoni for team-high with five homers on the season.
Jack Housinger finished with a hit in both games, scoring a run in game one (1-4), and collecting two rbi in game game (1-4) on his fourth home run of the year. Housinger has a reached-safely streak of 12 games that matches Luke Franzoni for team-high.
In game one, Garrett Schultz went 1-3, picking up a run and an RBI on his second homer of the year.
Natale Monastra collected a hit in both games, going 1-3 with an RBI in the first game and 1-4 with a run scored in game two.
Andrew Walker scored a pair of runs, one in each game, and had a team-best two walks for the day, both in game one. Walker has reached safely in 12 straight games.
Luke Franzoni had a hit in each game, extending his reached-safely streak to 13 games, matching Housinger for team-best, and has a team-best six-game hitting streak.
Anderw Sexton and Alex Helmin each collected a hit for the Musketeers, with Helmin bringing in an RBI in game two on a double.
Ryan Altenberger scored a pair of runs, one in each game, for Xavier. He extends his reached safely streak to seven games.

XU ON THE MOUND

Nick Zwack went the full 7.0 innings in the start in game one, not allowing a run on six hits, striking out eight and walking just two. It marked Zwack's second complete game this season,, both 7.0 inning outings, and he picked up his fourth win of the season.
Lane Flamm made the start in game two, going 5.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Jonathan Kelly entered to pick up the final two outs of the sixth in game two, allowing just one hit, striking out one and walking one.
Connor Bailey pitched the seventh inning, allowing just one hit and getting out of the inning, Bailey returned for the eighth inning facing three batters and allowing two homers and a walk before Xavier went to the bullpen.
Sam Czabala entered in the eighth, pitching the final 2.0 without allowing a run, and giving up just one hit. Czabala struck out three and walked one.