Courtesy of GoXavier.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Xavier baseball scored 13 runs in the seventh inning on Saturday afternoon, en route to a 15-1 victory over top seed Vanderbilt in the opening round of the Nashville Regional at Hawkins Field. The Musketeers have now won seven straight contests and 17 of their last 19 games.
The win marked Xavier’s first victory over Vanderbilt since March 2, 1996 – snapping an eight game losing streak in the series. The Musketeers improve to 3-9 in the all-time series. Xavier also moved to 3-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament action.
The 15 runs scored by Xavier is the most allowed by Vanderbilt this season. The Commodores allowed 13 runs against LSU on April 27.
The 15 runs also matched a season high for the Musketeers as Xavier also had 15 against Villanova on May 20.
UP NEXT
· Xavier advances to the winner’s bracket and will take on No. 2 UC Santa Barbara at 9 p.m. ET. Stay tuned to @XavierBase on Twitter for the latest updates regarding weather or any other schedule changes that may happen on Saturday. The game will be aired on ESPN3.
XU AT THE PLATE
· The Musketeers posted four more hits (9-5) than the Commodores and left two fewer runs on base (7-5). Xavier also had four extra-base hits, including three doubles.
· Leadoff hitter Rylan Bannon went 2-for-5 at the plate with five RBI and three runs to pace the Musketeer offense. The sophomore infielder has extended his hitting streak to 11 games and recorded his first career grand slam in the win.
· Daniel Rizzie was the only other player with more than one hit as the senior catcher went 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. He has now gone 8-for-9 from the plate in his last two outings.
· Will LaRue, David Morton and Matt Fallon all added two runs for the Musketeers.
XU ON THE MOUND
· LHP Zac Lowther made his team-leading 16th start on Saturday afternoon, recording seven innings of action. He has now gone five or more innings in 15 of his last 16 outings. The Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, native matched his career high in strikeouts with eight.
· Brad Kirschner and Greg Jacknewitz combined to throw two innings of scoreless relief, surrendering only one hit with one walk.
HOW XU SCORED
FOURTH INNING: Rylan Bannon hit a leadoff double down the left-field line to give the Musketeers their first hit of the day. On the next at bat, Daniel Rizzie singled to center field to score Bannon who crossed home plate on a Vanderbilt fielding error.
SIXTH INNING: The Musketeers added another run on a Vanderbilt error. With two outs, Commodore catcher Jason Delay overthrew first base on an Andre Jernigan strikeout – allowing Rizzie to score from second base.
SEVENTH INNING: The Musketeers scored 13 runs on six hits and two errors in the frame. Chris Givinscored the first run on a fielding error before Rylan Bannon hit his first career grand slam on the next at bat, making the score 6-1. Xavier also scored four runs via walks as the Musketeers forced Vanderbilt to use three pitchers in the inning.
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