Baseball Takes 5-3 Win in Series Opener at Seton Hall

Friday, April 19

South Orange, N.J.

4:00 PM

Xavier University

Seton Hall

Jonathan Kelly Jake Lambdin Matthew DePrey vs VCU

Baseball Takes 5-3 Win in Series Opener at Seton Hall

04.19.24 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats

Jonathan Kelly goes career-long 7.1 innings in the start

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Xavier baseball held off a late rally by the Seton Hall Pirates to take a 5-3 win in the series opener at Owen T. Carroll Field on Friday afternoon. The win moved the Musketeers to 19-18 on the season and 4-3 in BIG EAST play.

The Musketeers took the lead early, after Connor Misch got aboard with a single in the second, moved to second on a bunt from Matthew DePrey and third on a fielders choice before stealing home in a double steal with Carter Hendrickson to put Xavier ahead 1-0.

Xavier added another run in the sixth, with Hayden Christiansen getting hit by a pitch, moving to third on a double from Jared Cushing and scoring on a sac fly from Matt McCormick.

The Musketeers made it a 3-0 lead after Christiansen and Cushing hit back-to-back singles to start the eighth, then advanced on a bunt from McCormick. A sac fly from Connor Misch brought Christiansen home.

Jonathan Kelly made the start on the mound, allowing just a pair of hits in the first seven innings, and facing the minimum in four frames, but the Pirates got the first two on in the eighth before driving in a pair of runs on a one-out double and the Musketeers went to the bullpen. SHU added another run in the inning to tie it at 3-3 to wrap up the eighth.

In the ninth, Hendrickson reached on an error and Grant Stephenson walked, and both moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Jake Lambdin hit a single up the middle to bring both in and put the Musketeers back in front, 5-3. The Pirates loaded the bases in the ninth, but were unable to get a run across, setting the final score at 5-3 in favor of the Musketeers.

The series continues on Saturday, with the Musketeers and the Pirates set for a 2:00 p.m. on FloSports.

AT THE PLATE

Jake Lambdin finished 1-of-3 with a walk, driving in a pair of RBI with a single in the ninth.
Connor Misch went 1-of-3 with an RBI on a sac fly, and a run scored after stealing home in the first.
Matt McCormick went 1-of-2, driving in an RBI on a sac fly.
Hayden Christiansen went 1-of-4 and was hit by a pitch, scoring two runs.
Grant Stephenson got aboard with a walk while pinch hitting in the ninth, scoring a run.
Carter Hendrickson scored a run after getting on with a walk.
Jared Cushing recorded pair of hits.
Tyler Stack finished with a pair of walks.

ON THE MOUND

Jonathan Kelly made the start on the mound, going a career-long 7.1 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits, striking out five and not issuing a walk.
Nolan Hughes entered with one on and one out in the eighth, going 0.2 innings not allowing a hit and finished with a strikeout and a walk. He picked up the win to move to 2-3 on the season.
Jake Lambdin switched from shortstop to the mound for the ninth inning, pitching 0.2 scoreless innings with out allowing a hit, walking one.
Alex Vera entered with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth, picking up the final out with a flyball to earn his fourth save of the season.

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