Nine-Run Inning Helps Musketeers to 15-9 Win Over Creighton in Game Two

Saturday, April 13

Cincinnati, Ohio

2:45 PM

Xavier University

16-18, 2-3

Creighton

26-6, 3-2

Creighton

Xavier

Nine-Run Inning Helps Musketeers to 15-9 Win Over Creighton in Game Two

04.13.24 | Baseball

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Jonathan Kelly matches career-high with six strikeouts

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - A nine-run seventh inning and a career-long outing for Jonathan Kelly out of the bullpen helped power Xavier to a 15-9 win over Creighton in game two with the Bluejays at Hayden Field on Saturday afternoon. Xavier evened the series at 1-1 with the win, moving to 16-18 overall and 2-3 in BIG EAST play.

Xavier took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, with Luke Hammond getting on with a walk and Aedan Anderson hitting a home run to left to bring him in.

Creighton countered with a three run top of the second and added two more in the third to lead 5-2 into the bottom of three.

Hammond led off Xavier's half of the third with a single and Anderson homered again to bring in two more runs, pulling Xavier within one, 5-4. Hayden Christiansen followed that with a single, and Jared Cushing homered to left center to drive in two runs and put the Musketeers back in front, 6-5.

Creighton retook the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth, and held the 7-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh, where Hayden Christiansen singled and Jared Cushing walked to put the first two runners on. Matt McCormick homered to left to drive in three runs, putting the Musketeers in front, 9-7.

McCormick's home run opened the flood gates, staring a nine-run seventh for the Musketeers. After the bases were cleared, Matthew DePrey reached on an error, Jake Lambdin walked and Luke Hammond was hit by a pitch. A single from Aedan Anderson drove in two more runs, and a single from Christiansen drove in two more to put Xavier's lead at 13-7. With Christiansen on second, Cushing hit his second home run of the day to drive in two more to make it a 15-7 Xavier lead.

Jonathan Kelly, who entered from the bullpen in the fourth, had a career-high matching six strikeouts to keep the Bluejays off the board for four-straight innings, going a career-long 5.1 innings in relief. Creighton scored pair of runs in the ninth before Matthew Aukerman, who entered for the final two outs of the game, picked up a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

The series finale with the Bluejays is set for Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m.

AT THE PLATE

Aedan Anderson set a new career-best mark with six runs batted in after going 3-of-4, hitting a pair of home runs to give him 10 for the season. He also matched his career-best mark with three runs scored.
Matt McCormick hit his team-leading 11th home run of the season, a three-run shot to give Xavier the lead in the seventh, to finish with three RBI and a run scored. He finished 2-of-4 with a walk.
Jared Cushing went 2-of-4 with a walk, hitting a pair of home runs to give him five for the season. He drove in a season-high four RBI and matched his career-high with three runs scored.
Luke Hammond finished 3-of-3 with a walk, coming around to score three runs, a career-best mark.
Matthew DePrey finished with a hit and a run scored.
Jake Lambdin got aboard with a walk, coming around to score a run.
Carter Hendrickson also reached on a walk.
Xavier's 15 runs were a season high for the Musketeers.

ON THE MOUND

Logan Schmidt made the start, going 3.0 innings, allowing seven runs, five earned, on seven hits, finishing with three strikeouts and three walks.
Jonathan Kelly entered with two on and no outs in the fourth, going a career-long 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, allowing just one walk while matching his career-high with six strikeouts, also set on 3/28/2022 against Cincinnati. Kelly earned the win, his first of the season.
Matthew Aukerman entered with one on and one out in the ninth, allowing a hit before picking up the final two outs with strikeouts.

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