May 24, 2008

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CAMDEN, N.J. - The Xavier baseball team fell, 4-3, in extra innings to the Charlotte 49ers in the finals of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship Saturday afternoon in its first ever appearance in the championship game. The Musketeers claimed second place in the Championship, their best finish in program history. Three members of the squad earned a spot on the All-Championship Team: senior Mike Creevy, junior Jordan Conley and sophomore Danny Rosenbaum.

Junior Adam Pasono went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored while juniors Sean Farrell and Billy O'Conner each had two hits apiece. Creevy made his 99th career appearance on the mound today in his final outing as a Musketeer, setting the new all-time record for appearances in Xavier program history.

Charlotte (43-14) put up the first run of the game in the first inning as O'Brien Taylor led off the frame with a single to the third baseman. He then stole second and was able to come home when Rob Lyerly singled to left field. The Niners took the early 1-0 lead into the second.

Xavier (27-31) got on the board in the third after junior Adam Pasono led off with a double down the left line. Sophomore Drew Schmidt followed with a fly out that allowed Pasono to get to third and a single by junior Steve Brown brought him home. The Musketeers ended the inning tied with the 49ers, 1-1.

In the bottom of the third, Charlotte tallied two more runs when Shayne Moody reached on a fielder's choice, advancing to second on the throw, and Lyerly was walked to put two on. Taylor singled up the middle to score Moody and Alan Parks' double to left enabled Lyerly to make it home. The Niners retook the lead, 3-1, after three complete.

The Musketeers got a run back in the top of the fifth as Pasono singled to the shortstop and then made it to second when Schmidt grounded out to short. Brown reached on an error by the shortstop and Pasono made it all the way home for the unearned run. Xavier pulled to within one, 3-2.

XU was able to tie the game at three runs apiece in the sixth after Conley singled up the middle followed by a double from Farrell, which moved Conley over to third. A sacrifice fly out by junior O'Conner allowed Conley to come across and knot the game at 3-3 after five and a half innings.

The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the 11^th inning when Cory Tilton was given a base after being hit by a pitch. Alex Bryant followed that with a bunt to the third baseman, who over threw the ball to first in an attempt to put out the runner. Tilton was able to make it all the way home due to the errant throw. Charlotte captured the win and the 2008 A-10 Championship title, its second in as many years - the first team to repeat since Virginia Tech in 1999-00.

Xavier University and the athletic department would like to wish the nine senior team members good luck and best wishes in their future endeavors.