Courtesy of GoXavier.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Xavier’s 2014 baseball season ended in a heart-breaking extra-inning decision to Oregon, 11-8, in the NCAA Championships. The Musketeers close their season with a 30-29 record, while the Ducks improve to 44-19.
Oregon nabbed a quick 2-0 lead on the Musketeers in the first inning. Aaron Payne drew a leadoff walk and later scored on Shaun Chase’s homer to left field.
The Ducks tacked on another run in the third, capitalizing on a double and pair of walks. Kyle Garlick registered the RBI on a fielder’s choice to third.
A pair of singles from Joe Forney and Patrick Jones provided base runners for Derek Hasenbeck in the sixth. Xavier’s designated hitter roped a single to center field to bring home Forney and put the Musketeers on the scoreboard.
XU continued to pour on the runs in the sixth. Brian Bruening delivered an RBI single to bring the Musketeers within one, 3-2, and set up freshman Andre Jernigan.
Jernigan, Xavier’s starting shortstop, blasted a three-run bomb to left field that catapulted the Musketeers into the lead, 5-3.
The Musketeers added to their advantage just an inning later. Mitch Elliott and Forney singled in consecutive at-bats and Rizzie responded with a three-run homer to left center, extending Xavier’s lead to 8-3.
The miscues then began to pile up for the Musketeers. Following a leadoff single from Chase, David Morton was charged with the first error after misplaying a single to centerfield. With two runners on the bases, Garlick blasted a three-run shot to pull UO within two, 8-6.
An error by Jernigan allowed the leadoff batter to reach in the ninth. After a walk was issued to put two runners on the pads, Garlick singled to left field. The relay throw was mishandled by Jernigan, and as Garlick attempted to take second Jernigan’s throw went errant as well. Two runs scored on the play to even the score and send the game into extra innings.
Another Xavier error charged to Michael Moore, who failed to catch Stephen Schoettmer’s throw from third on a sac bunt attempt, allowed the go-ahead runner to score from second.
The Ducks tacked on two more runs in the inning to pull ahead by three, 11-8. The Musketeers went down in order to end the game.
Trent Astle allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks over seven-plus innings of work. The freshman southpaw fanned a career-best six batters, but did not factor into the decision.
Adam Hall (5-4) suffered the hard-luck loss after allowing six runs, only two of which were earned. Brad Kirschner and Markus Kuykendoll each pitched a third of an inning.
Garlick led the Ducks’ offensive output with five RBIs on two hits. Five different pitchers made appearances for Oregon, with Jake Reed (4-1) earning the win.
The game was delayed 15 minutes in the fourth inning, marking the third-straight game in which Xavier’s game was halted due to inclement weather.
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