May 5, 2007

Box Score

CINCINNATI - In the final game of the Atlantic 10 series, Xavier could not withstand a four-run sixth inning by Charlotte after jumping out to the early 3-1 lead and fell to the visiting 49ers, 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at Hayden Field. The Musketeers were held to just four hits over the course of the afternoon and left six runners on base. The loss puts XU at 21-27 on the season and 12-9 in conference action, while Charlotte improves to 38-9 overall and 18-3 in the A-10.

Robbie Kelley got the home team on the board first as the junior drove a single into left to score Sean Farrell. Farrell lead off the inning by beating out a tough play at first and advanced to second on a hit and run that was snagged by the Charlotte pitcher, nabbing Adam Lipski at first.

After a wild pitch in the top of the third knotted the score, Xavier responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead, 3-1. A leadoff walk by Matt Waskerwitz resulted in the senior scoring on a double down the left field line by Adam Pasono. Pasono would score the final run of the inning after Jordan Wolf sent a deep fly ball to center to earn the sacrifice fly.

In the Charlotte sixth, the Musketeers could not cool the hot bats of the 49ers as four hits, two hit batters and a walk produced four runs. The inning would give Charlotte all they would need to hold on after leaving the score, 5-3, after six complete.

A slow day at the plate saw only four Musketeers earn a hit as Wolf, Farrell and Kelley each recorded a single. Pasono would have XU's only extra-base hit on the day and an RBI. Wolf and Kelley picked up the other two RBIs for the Blue and White.

Michael Lucas got the start on the hill and cruised through five innings before allowing the four-run sixth. Before that point, Lucas allowed only five hits and one run with all six of his strikeouts coming in those first five frames. He ended the day throwing 5.1 innings, allowing five earned on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Dan Graham threw the final 3.2 innings and allowed only one run on five hits and struck out a batter.

Xavier will now have a week off for exams before welcoming La Salle to Hayden Field for the weekend A-10 series. For the Musketeers, it will be the fourth, fifth and sixth games at home over the last 11 games and the series with the Explorers is set to get underway at 2:30 pm on Friday afternoon. Game two on Saturday is scheduled for 1:00 pm with the final game of the series starting at 12:00 pm on Sunday.