Bats Get Going Late But Musketeers Fall in Series Finale at Alabama

Sunday, February 20

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2 PM

Xavier University

0-3

Alabama

3-0

Xavier

Alabama

Bats Get Going Late But Musketeers Fall in Series Finale at Alabama

02.20.22 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

Andrew Walker goes 3-of-4 at the plate; Housinger, Franzoni and DeMartino each collect a pair of hits

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

TUSCALOOSA, AL - Xavier baseball got the bats going late, scoring four runs after the fifth inning, but were unable to overcome Crimson Tide's early lead, falling 9-4 in the series finale at Alabama.

Alabama took a one run lead in the second and added four runs in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead into the fifth, where the Tide extended it to a 6-0 lead. Xavier led off the sixth inning with singles from Jack Housinger and Luke Franzoni, and Andrew Walker hit a one-out single to bring Housinger home, cutting the lead to 6-1. With two outs and two on, Jared Cushing doubled down the left field line to bring Franzoni home and make it a 6-2 score.

Xavier cut it to a three-run lead in the seventh, scoring a run following a Jerry Huntzinger single and Jack Housinger double with one out. With two on, Luke Franzoni hit into a fielder's choice to bring in Huntzinger to make it 6-3. Alabama added pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to push it back out to an 8-3 lead.

The Musketeers would add one more in the ninth, after Eddie Rivero singled through the left side with Jared Cushing and Garrett Schultz on base, bringing Cushing home to make it 8-4. The Crimson Tide got the run back in the bottom of the eight to set the final score at 9-4.

The Musketeers head back out on the road for a mid-week game, taking on the Louisville Cardinals on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 3:00 p.m.

XU AT THE PLATE

Andrew Walker went 3-of-4 at the plate with a walk, driving in an RBI. Walker batted .455 for the series.
Luke Franzoni collected a pair of hits (2-5), drove in an RBI, and scored a run, his fourth of the series. He finished the series batting .429.
Jack Housinger picked up a pair of hits (2-5), including a double, and score a run, his third of the series. Housinger batted .417 for the opening series.
Tyler DeMartino also had a pair of hits (2-5) and an RBI in Sunday's game.
Jared Cushing collected a hit, a double, drove in an RBI, and came around to score a run.
Eddie Rivero brought in an RBI with a single in the eighth inning.
Jerry Huntzinger also collected a hit, coming around to score the run in the seventh inning.

XU ON THE MOUND

George Eisenhardt made the start, his collegiate debut, going 2.1 innings, striking out four and allowing five runs on five hits and four walks.
Jonathan Kelly entered for the final two outs of the third, allowing one hit and striking out one to get out of the inning. Kelly went 2.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with a pair of strike-outs.
Jack Lynch entered for the final two outs of the fifth, going 2.0 innings total, allowing two runs, neither earned, on one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
Luke Bell entered for the final two outs of the seventh, going the final 1.2 innings with one earned run on two hits.