Xavier Drops Game One to Catamounts

Friday, April 1

Mason, Ohio / Prasco Park

5 PM

Xavier University

13-14

Western Carolina

12-14

Western Carolina

Xavier

04.01.22 | Baseball

Box Score

Game Two and Three are this weekend at Prasco Park

By: Mark Leopold, Xavier Athletics Communications

MASON, OH - The Musketeers fought from behind for the majority of the game to keep it close, but in the crucial moments the calls just didn't go their way tonight. Western Carolina took Game One from Prasco Park 7-5, with Games Two and Three on deck at Hayden Field this weekend.

Western Carolina came into Southwest Ohio hot, notching two solo home runs in the first inning. Xavier got one back in the second as Garrett Schultz reached on an infield single and forced an errant Catamount throw to score Tyler DeMartino. Jared Cushing tied things in the fourth with a solo blast to left, but Western Carolina hit a two-run shot of their own in the top of the fifth.

Not going quietly, Xavier answered again with a DeMartino single to bring the Musketeers back within a run at 4-3. However, Western Carolina scored again in the sixth, and added two more in the seventh. Xavier mounted a rally after the stretch, scoring two on a Garrett Schultz double and loading the bases later in the inning, but a called third strike ended the threat and the 7-5 score would hold in favor of Western Carolina.

Xavier is back for Game Two at 2:00 pm ET on Saturday, with the series finale on Sunday at 1:00 pm ET.

XU AT THE PLATE

Tyler DeMartino had the hot bat tonight, going 3-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Garrett Schultz was clutch, going 2-4 with a two-rbi double and accounting for DeMartino's unearned run.
Jared Cushing went 2-3 including a home run to tie things up for Xavier in the fourth.
Jack Housinger had Xavier's other hit, and he later scored in the seventh.

XU ON THE MOUND

Trevor Olson drew the start and settled in after giving up two early homers. After 4.1 innings, he had seven strikeouts to 20 batters faced.
Bryce Barnett provided the initial relief out of the pen, going 1.2 innings and allowing just one run while striking out two.
Bobby Jones gave up two runs in his inning of work but came back to get a strikeout.
Justin Loer pitched. a strong eighth and ninth, going 1.2 innings and striking out two while only allowing one baserunner.
Jonathan Kelly came on and go the final out for Xavier.