Xavier Secures Series Win with 9-5 Victory in Game Two with VCU

Saturday, March 23

Cincinnati, Ohio

3:00 PM

Xavier University

11-12

VCU

15-8

VCU

Xavier

Xavier Secures Series Win with 9-5 Victory in Game Two with VCU

03.23.24 | Baseball

Box Score Season Stats Box Score Photos

McCormick hits a grand slam for his third home run of the weekend

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier baseball used a five-run sixth inning to come from behind and take a 9-5 win in game two with VCU, securing the series win for the Musketeers. Xavier moved to 11-12 on the season

VCU took the early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first and adding a run in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

in the fifth, Jake Lambdin led off for the Musketeers, getting aboard with a walk, then moved to second on a ground out from Luke Hammond and came home on single from Matt McCormick to get the Musketeers on the board. McCormick would score on a double from Connor Misch to cut VCU's lead to one, 3-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Xavier tied it up after Aedan Anderson walked, Jared Cushing singled and Carter Hendrickson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hammond took a walk, driving in a run to make it 3-3. With the bases still loaded, McCormick hit a grand slam, his third home run of the series, to put the Musketeers in front, 7-3.

Logan Schmidt exited after going a season-long 6.0 innings in the start, striking out four and only allowing two earned runs, and Jonathan Kelly came in for the seventh, where VCU added another run, but the Musketeers responded with two more in the bottom of the frame to stretch the lead out to five.

Cushing led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and Carter Hendrickson was hit by a pitch to put the first two on for Xavier. A sacrifice bunt from Jake Lambdin moved both runners into scoring position, and another sac bunt from Hammond drove in Cushing. After McCormick was intentionally walked, Hayden Christiansen singled to left center to drive in Hendrickson to make it 9-4 Xavier.

The Rams added a run in the eighth, but Kelly picked up three strikeouts to help keep VCU from getting any closer.

The series finale with VCU is set for Sunday, March 24, with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch at Hayden Field.

AT THE PLATE

Matt McCormick finished with a career-high five RBI, going 2-of-4 with a walk. Among his hits was his team-high ninth home run of the season, and third of the weekend, a grand slam in the sixth inning to put the Musketeers in front.
Luke Hammond finished with two RBI and a run scored, reaching base on a pair of walks.
Connor Misch went 2-of-4 with a walk, driving in an RBI with his fifth-inning double.
Hayden Christiansen (1-5) drove in an RBI with a single in the seventh inning.
Jared Cushing went 2-of-3 with a walk, scoring a pair of runs.
Jake Lambdin finished with two walks, coming around to score a run.
Aedan Anderson finished with a run scored, reaching on a walk.
Matthew DePrey recorded a pair of hits.

ON THE MOUND

Logan Schmidt went a season-long 6.0 innings in the start, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits, striking out a season-high four while walking a pair. He picked up the win, his third of the season.
Jonathan Kelly pitched the final 3.0 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits. He finished with three strikeouts without walking a batter, picking up his third save of the season.

PHOTOS

Baseball vs VCU (Game 2) by Xavier Musketeers on Exposure