May 23, 2008

Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. - The top-seeded Xavier baseball team advanced to the finals of the Atlantic 10 Championship Friday night after shutting out the fifth-seeded Rhode Island Rams, 3-0, in its second elimination game of the day. This is the first time the Musketeers have reached the finals of the tournament since joining the league prior to the 1996 season and had previously finished no higher than third in the tournament. XU will face No. 2-seeded Charlotte at 12 p.m. on Saturday in the title game.

Four Musketeers had one hit apiece and no errors were commited in the win. Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team member junior Jordan Conley recorded his 10th save of the season, a Xavier single-season school record. 

Xavier (27-30) was able to score first in the nightcap as senior Robbie Kelley led off the third inning with a double to left field. Junior Adam Pasono followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Kelley to third and sophomore Drew Schmidt was put out at first, allowing Kelley to score. XU took the early 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.

Rhode Island (31-27-1) had runners in scoring position in each of the second, third and sixth innings but strong pitching backed up by tough Xavier defense thwarted the Rams attempts at scoring. The score remained the same with Xavier leading, 1-0, until the top of the seventh.

Sophomore Bobby Freking led off the frame with a double to right and was brought home on a triple to the center field wall by Conley. Junior Billy O'Conner reached first on a Ram error and Conley made it across to extend the Musketeer lead to three runs, 3-0.

With one out and two runners on in the bottom of the ninth, the Musketeers pulled Conley in from shortstop to relieve starter sophomore Danny Rosenbaum on the mound. Conley walked the first Ram batter to load the bases and then struck out the next. The final out of the game came when Rob Deveney grounded out to the second baseman.

Rosenbaum (5-3) got the win for Xavier after striking out while walking one and gave up no runs in 8.1 innings of action. Conley closed the game, tossing 0.2 innings of relief for the save.

Pickering (5-2) took the loss for Rhode Island as he struck out five batters while walking none and giving up two earned runs. Degidio tossed 2.0 innings of relief for the Rams.

Xavier moves on to play No. 2 Charlotte on Saturday in the finals of the A-10 Championship. XU will have to beat Charlotte twice tomorrow in order to win the title as Charlotte has yet to lose a game. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.

Xavier Musketeers Baseball

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