Xavier Takes 5-2 Win in Series Opener at Butler

Friday, May 8

Indianapolis, Ind.

1:00 PM

Xavier University

23-27, 11-5

Butler

19-30, 8-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Xavier	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	2	5	8	0
Butler	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	1

Xavier Takes 5-2 Win in Series Opener at Butler

05.08.26 | Baseball

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Musketeers score five unanswered, hold Bulldogs scoreless for eight innings in game one win

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS - Xavier's offense scored five unanswered runs while the Musketeers' pitching staff held Butler to just two hits in the final eight innings as Xavier took the 5-2 win in the series opener on Friday afternoon at Bulldogs Park.

The Musketeers improved to 23-27 (11-5 BIG EAST), while the Bulldogs moved to 19-30 (8-8 BIG EAST).

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the first and held the Musketeers off the board until the fourth. Tommy Townsend led off the frame with a home run to get the Musketeers on the board and cut the Butler lead in half.

After Townsend's home run, Landon Mensik and Tanner Thomas got aboard on walks, and Donavan Canterberry reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Jorge Valdes reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in Mensik to tie it at 2-2. Thomas came home on a sac fly from Clay Burdette to give Xavier the 3-2 lead.

Xavier took the one-run lead into the ninth where they picked up a pair of insurance runs. Burdette got on with a single and Josh Stonehouse was hit by a pitch to put two on for Luke Hammond, who brought in both with an RBI double to make it a 5-2 Xavier lead.

After the Bulldogs scored a pair on three hits in the first inning, Ryan Piech and Michael Murphy combined to hold the Bulldogs scoreless the rest of the way, limiting Butler to just two hits in the final eight frames. Piech picked up the win, his BIG EAST-leading seventh of the season, while Murphy earned the save.

The series with the Bulldogs continues on Saturday, set for a 2:00 p.m. start, streamed live on HomeTeam Network.

AT THE PLATE

Luke Hammond finished 2-4 with a double, driving in two RBIs.
Tommy Townsend finished 1-4 with an RBI an a run scored after hitting his eighth home run of the season. Townsend has hit five home runs in the last six games.
Clay Burdette went 1-3, picking up an RBI on a sac fly and scoring a run. Jorge Valdes also finished with an RBI.
Josh Stonehouse went 2-3 with a walk, also getting on with a hit-by-pitch, and came around to score a run.
Landon Mensik and Tanner Thomas each finished with a hit and a walk, scoring a run.
Jonathan Fitz recorded a walk, one of four for the Musketeers.

on the mound

Ryan Piech made the start, allowing two runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work, finishing with four strikeouts to three walks. Piech allowed just one hit and did not allow a run in his final 5.0 innings of work, picking up the win to move to 7-3 on the season.
Michael Murphy entered for the seventh inning, going the final 3.0 innings without allowing a run, giving up just one hit and not allowing a walk while striking out five. Murphy picked up the save, his first of the season.

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