Burdette, Musketeers Take Series Opener vs Purple Aces

Friday, March 13

Cincinnati, Ohio

3:00 PM

Xavier University

6-13

Evansville

3-13

Evansville

Xavier

Burdette, Musketeers Take Series Opener vs Purple Aces

03.13.26 | Baseball

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The right fielder went 3-for-4 with four RBI on Friday afternoon

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier opened its weekend series with Evansville with a 7-5 victory on Friday afternoon at Hayden Field.

The Musketeers improved to 6-13 on the year, while the Purple Aces moved to 3-13.

Evansville took an early 2-0 advantage by scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Xavier responded with a four-run second inning, scoring four runs on three hits and one error. Mitchell Morton and Jorge Valdes drove in the first two runs before a Clay Burdette home run down the left-field line scored the final two runs.

The Purple Aces tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the fourth inning on a two-out, two-run homer by Ximi Baftiri. Xavier responded in the bottom of the frame by scoring three runs on two hits, taking a 7-4 advantage. A Clay Burdette two RBI double scored the first two runs before Jorge Valdes crossed home plate on a Josh Stonehouse sacrifice fly.

Evansville closed within two runs, 7-5, when Carlie Long crossed home plate on a RBI ground out by Drew McConne.

Xavier's pitching staff threw six strikeouts in the last three innings and did not allow a hit, sealing the two-run victory.

Xavier had four more hits (9-5) than Evansville and left four more runners on base (7-3). Evansville committed the lone error in the game.

Xavier continues its eight-game homestand vs Evansville on Saturday, March 14 in game two of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. from Hayden Field with the game being aired on ESPN+.

AT THE PLATE

Clay Burdette went 3-for-4 with four RBI, a homer, a double and a run. He now has four multi-hit and multi-RBI games on the season.
Jorge Valdes went 4-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. He now has a .529 batting average in five games this season.
Josh Stonehouse went 1-for-3 with a double and a RBI. He now has a team-high 15 RBI on the year.
Luke Hammond added a hit and a run, while Tanner Thomas added a run. Donavan Canterberry also scored two runs.

on the mound

Ryan Piech (2-2) went six innings, throwing seven strikeouts and issuing three walks. The RHP allowed five runs and five hits. He now has a season-high 33 strikeouts on the season.
Owen Poole threw a season-high 2.1 innings of relief. The RHP matched his season high in strikeouts with four. He did not allow a hit or a run to the eight batters he faced.
Karter Muck earned his first save of the season, striking out both batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Xavier's pitching staff threw 13 strikeouts, the second most in a game this season. The Musketeers now have six games on the year with 10 or more strikeouts.

HIGHLIGHTS