Baseball Opens Up VCU Series with 7-6 Win

Friday, March 22

Cincinnati, Ohio

3:00 PM

Xavier University

10-12

VCU

15-7

VCU

Xavier

03.22.24 | Baseball

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Musketeers hit five home runs; Xavier pitchers strike out 12

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Five home runs from the offense and a 12-strikeout day on the mound powered Xavier baseball to a 7-6 win in the first of three games with VCU at Hayden Field. The Musketeers moved to 10-12 on the season with the win.

Xavier took the lead early with a pair of home runs, including a solo home run from Matt McCormick and a two-run shot from Connor Misch that drove in Hayden Christiansen, who got aboard with a single, giving the Musketeers a 3-0 advantage after the first.

VCU got on the board the next inning, scoring a run, but solo home runs from Luke Hammond in the third and Matthew DePrey in the fourth extended Xavier's lead to 5-1.

In the fifth, the Rams scored a pair, cutting Xavier's lead back to two, which held into the seventh when McCormick's second long ball of the day made it a 6-3 Xavier lead.

Luke Hoskins exited after 7.0 innings, striking out eight and allowing just three runs and Jake Lambdin came in for the eighth, striking out all three batters in a 1-2-3 inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Connor Misch led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch, moved to second on a ground out from DePrey and third on a wild pitch. Jared Cushing hit a two-out single to drive in Misch to make it a 7-3 advantage.

VCU got the first two runners aboard in the ninth, then drove them in with a three-run home run to cut Xavier's lead to 7-6. The Musketeers went to Alex Vera out of the bullpen, who came in and picked up the final three outs with a strikeout and two flyballs to wrap up the win for the Musketeers.

Game two with the Rams is set for Saturday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. at Hayden Field.

AT THE PLATE

Matt McCormick added to his team-high home run total, hitting two solo shots to finish 2-4 at the plate, with to RBI and two runs scored.
Connor Misch went 2-of-3 at the plate, including his second home run of the season, a two-run shot to finish with two RBI. He also scored two runs.
Matthew DePrey (1-4) hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth inning.
Luke Hammond finished 2-of-4 at the plate, hitting his fifth home run of the season to drive in an RBI and score a run.
Jared Cushing (1-4) drove in an RBI with a single in the eighth.
Tyler Stack went 1-of-1 pinch hitting, recording a single in his first collegiate at-bat.
Hayden Christiansen also finished with a hit (1-4) coming around to score a run.
Carter Hendrickson got aboard with Xavier's lone walk of the day.

ON THE MOUND

Luke Hoskins made the start, matching his career-long at 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. He finished with eight strikeouts to no walks and picked up the win, his third of the season.
Jake Lambdin entered for the eighth, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk, striking out three.
Alex Vera came in in the ninth, after the Rams had scored three runs, picking up the final three outs to seal the win for the Musketeers. he didn't allow a hit or a walk, and finished with one strike out on the way to his second save of the season.
The Musketeers' pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts, one off the season-high total.

PHOTOS

Baseball vs VCU (Game 1) by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure