Xavier Hangs on to Defeat Villanova 8-7

Thursday, April 14

Cincinnati, Ohio

3 PM

Xavier University

18-17, 2-2

Villanova

12-17-1, 3-4

Villanova

Xavier

Photo by: Rooted Creative

04.14.22 | Baseball

Box Score

Musketeers take no-hit bid into seventh inning

By: Mark Leopold, Xavier Athletics Communications

CINCINNATI, OH - After pitching 6.1 no-hit innings, Xavier withstood a furious comeback to take down Villanova and move over .500 for the first time this season. Leading 8-1 after six, after the combined no-hitter ended, Villanova scored six unanswered, but left the tying and go-ahead run on base in the ninth as Xavier secured the win.

Tyler DeMartino started the scoring again with another two-run home run in the first, and Jerry Huntzinger did the same in the third as Xavier jumped out front. Villanova scored in the fourth after two hits by pitch and two walks, so even without a base knock, the Wildcats found the scoreboard.

Undeterred, Xavier hung three runs in the fifth behind a Luke Franzoni double, a DeMartino single, and Andrew Walker reached on an error to allow another run to score. Jack Housinger got yet another RBI in the sixth with a sac fly, extending Xavier's lead to seven. From there, momentum shifted to Villanova but in the end, they were one run shy of stealing the win.

Xavier and Villanova meet again tomorrow at 1:00 at Hayden Field.

XU AT THE PLATE

Jerry Huntzinger led off the lineup and the Xavier offense, scoring four runs and two RBIs in a 3-4 performance.
Tyler DeMartino is still hot, leading off the scoring with a two-run homer in the fifth as part of a 2-4, three-RBI day.
Luke Franzoni was 2-5 with a pair of doubles including an RBI and a run.
Jack Housinger was 1-4 with a run and a sacrifice fly.
Matt DePrey, Jared Cushing and Ethan Hodge all collected base hits today, too.

XU ON THE MOUND

Luke Bell was on the mound to start the game, going 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and only an HBP away from perfection.
Jonathan Kelly picked up the dominance, going a full inning while allowing a run on a few free passes, but keeping the no-hitter intact.
Bryce Barnett went 2.1 perfect innings, picking up a strikeout while taking the no-hitter into the seventh inning.
Bobby Jones got two strikeouts in the seventh, but that's where Villanova did the damage. Scoring five times on the right hander.
Jared Gadd pitched the eighth and into the ninth, allowing one run on one hit.
Jack Lynch slammed the door in the ninth, getting the final two outs to seal the victory for Xavier.