Musketeers Set New Season-Highs in Series Win Over Villanova

Saturday, April 16

Cincinnati, Ohio

11:30 AM

Xavier University

19-18, 3-3

Villanova

13-18-1, 4-5

Villanova

Xavier

Photo by: Rooted Creative

Musketeers Set New Season-Highs in Series Win Over Villanova

04.16.22 | Baseball

Box Score

Luke Franzoni hits seven RBIs in two-homer day

By: Mark Leopold, Xavier Athletics Communications

CINCINNATI, OH - In what may have been the most important game of the season to date, Xavier baseball delivered. The Musketeers had it working on both sides of the ball, including five home runs while striking out 13 Villanova batters in a commanding 11-5 victory.

Action started early off the bat of Tyler DeMartino yet again, as he hit another first-inning two run home run. Jared Cushing homered in the second, and Luke Franzoni added on with a two-RBI double to give Xavier an early 5-0 lead.

Villanova got one back in the third, and as the Xavier bats cooled, they scored two more in the fifth and one in the sixth. With the Wildcats within a run, Xavier put their foot back on the accelerator. Luke Franzoni blasted his 14th of the season for another two RBIs, and Tyler DeMartino hit his second long ball of the game on the very next pitch.

Villanova managed another run in the seventh, but Luke Franzoni hit a three-run homer after the seventh inning stretch to put the Wildcats away for good. With that, he is one home run away from the Xavier single-season record, and one away from the current NCAA lead.

Xavier has an off day before going to Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET.

XU AT THE PLATE

Luke Franzoni had a monster day, going 4-4 at the plate with seven RBIs on two homers and a double. He scored three times, and now sits one home run behind the Xavier single-season record for long balls.
Tyler DeMartino hit his 9th and 10th homer of the season in a 2-5 three-RBI performance.
Jared Cushing was 1-3 including his solo home run in the second inning.
Jack Housinger went 2-4 including a double, scoring three times for the Musketeers.
Ethan Hodge was 1-2, scoring twice this afternoon.
Rounding out the day was Andrew Walker's two hits and Garrett Schultz's single.

XU ON THE MOUND

Luke Bell drew the start for the second time this series, facing nine batters and striking out three.
Jack Lynch was next, and in 3.0 innings, he struck out a career-high six Wildcats.
Bryce Barnett struck out the side in the sixth (the third-straight time Xavier did so today), giving the Musketeers 12 K's in the first 6 innings.
Jerry Huntzinger had his longest outing of the season, pitching two hitless innings to close out Villanova.