Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Creighton, Take 2-1 Series Lead into Finale

Friday, May 21

Omaha, Neb.

3:00 PM ET

Xavier University

25-22, 15-9

Creighton

21-13, 13-6

Xavier

Creighton

Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Creighton, Take 2-1 Series Lead into Finale

05.21.21 | Baseball

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

Game four set for 1 PM ET on CBS Sports Network

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier baseball split a Friday doubleheader at Creighton, taking a 6-2 win in game one and falling 3-2 in extra innings in game two to go into the finale leading the series, 2-1. Game four is set to be played on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

Xavier took a two-run lead in the third inning of game one and pushed it to 5-1 advantage in the fourth inning. The Bluejays scored a run in the fifth, but the Musketeers responded in the next half of the inning to take a 6-2 lead, the final score of the seven-inning game. Lane Flamm picked up the win after going 6.0 innings in the start.

In game two, Xavier took a one-run lead in the top of the first and held the advantage until the fourth inning when the Bluejays got one across, tying the game at 1-1, a score which held until the 10th inning when Xavier picked up a run to go ahead, 2-1. The Bluejays responded with two runs in the bottom of the 10th to take the walk-off win, 3-2.

Xavier moved to 25-23 overall and 15-10 in BIG EAST play, while Creighton moved to 22-13 overall and 14-6 in conference play with one game remaining.

SCORING RECAP (GAME 1)

3RD INNING | Jared Cushing led off the inning with a single to center field, and with one out, Luke Franzoni homered to left field, his third home run of the series, to put Xavier ahead, 2-0.

4TH INNING | Tyler DeMartino and Jared Cushing hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, bringing Sam Olson to the plate with runners on the corners and no outs. Olson lifted a sac fly to center field to bring in DeMartino, putting Xavier ahead, 3-1. With two outs, and Cushing on first, Jack Housinger hit a double to center to drive in Cushing, 4-1 Xavier, and then advanced to third on a throwing error. Andrew Walker hit a single to center to bring in Housinger, putting Xavier ahead, 5-1.

6TH INNING | Luke Franzoni and Jack Housinger both took a base on balls to get the first two batters on. Andrew Sexton, pinch running for Franzoni and Housinger each advanced on a wild pitch, and a single from Natale Monastra brought in Sexton from third to put Xavier up 6-2.

SCORING RECAP (GAME 2)

1ST INNING | Luke Franzoni led off with a walk and Jack Housinger hit a single to left center to put two on for Garrett Schultz. With no outs, Schultz hit into a fielder's choice, with Housinger out at second to put runners on the corners. With two outs, Jared Cushing hit a single into left to bring in Franzoni, putting Xavier up 1-0.

10TH INNING | Garrett Schultz was placed on second to begin the inning, a rule for extra innings this season, and moved to third on a sac bunt from Jeff Holtz. Jared Cushing hit a single up the middle to bring in the run, putting Xavier up 2-1.

XU AT THE PLATE

Jared Cushing finished with six hits for the day after collecting two hits in game one and then going 4-5 in game two. He came around to score twice in the first game and drove in both of Xavier's RBI in the second game. Cushing is hitting .615 for the series with the Bluejays with eight hits through the last three games. He has a team-best six-game hitting streak and has gotten on base in eight straight games.
Luke Franzoni hit his third home run of the series and ninth of the season in game one of the doubleheader, driving in two RBI. Franzoni had a pair of walks in game two to extend his reached-safely streak to 10 games, matching Jack Housinger for team-high.
Tyler DeMartino finished with three hits for the day, including going 2-4 with a run scored in game one, and collecting another in game two to extend his hitting streak to five games. DeMartino is batting .417 for the series with Creighton.
Jack Housinger went 1-2 with two walks in game one, scoring a run and collecting an RBI. Housinger also had a hit in the second game to extend his on-base streak to 10 games.
Alex Helmin had a three-hit day after going 2-2 in the second game of the day.
Natale Monastra went 2-4 with an RBI in game one.
Andrew Walker and Sam Olson each drove in an RBI in game one.

XU ON THE MOUND

Lane Flamm made the start in game one on Friday, going 6.0 innings in the seven-inning game. Flamm allowed two runs on six hits and three walks, striking out seven, picking up the win to move to 3-5 on the season.
Jared Gadd entered for the final inning of game one, allowing a pair of hits but holding the Bluejays scoreless to seal the Xavier win.
Ethan Bosacker made the start in game two, going 6.0 innings with one run allowed on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
Jonathan Kelly entered for the seventh, recording 3.0 innings of work. Kelly didn't allow a run through the ninth inning, but was tagged with two unearned runs in the 10th after he allowed a hit before Dorsey Chatham entered from the bullpen.
Chatham entered with two on with no outs in the 10th, including the Bluejays runner placed at second to begin the inning. Chatham walked one to load the bases before one Bluejay run scored on a wild pitch and a fielding error allowed another CU run to score to end the game.