Courtesy of GoXavier.com
CINCINNATI – Junior Rylan Bannon had a career-best performance on his birthday, going 6-for-6 at the plate as Xavier baseball defeated Butler 17-12 on Saturday at Hayden Field.
Bannon’s hit total was a career-high and the most by a Musketeer since at least 2004. He added his team and league-leading 12th homer of the year in the game as well, going yard for the fourth time in five games.
XU also got a grand slam from Mitch Gallagher in the fifth inning, part of a six-run eruption that effectively put the game away.
Just like Friday, the Musketeers stacked up two big innings – scoring five in the fourth and six in the fifth – although Butler threatened repeatedly in the late innings, outscoring XU 6-1 after the sixth.
With the win, XU improves to 23-17 and 5-3 in league play. The Bulldogs dropped to 23-15 and 2-6 in the BIG EAST with the loss.
XU AT THE PLATE
• XU had a double digit hit total for the seventh time in nine games, collecting 15 today.
• The Musketeers also reached double digits in runs for the sixth time this season and second straight game.
• The 17 runs were the second-most scored in 2017 by XU and most since scoring 22 against Fairleigh Dickinson on March 31.
• Rylan Bannon had a career-best six hits, going 6-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI. The junior also hit his 12th homer of the year in the fourth inning, giving him homers in four of his last five games.
• The performance raised Bannon’s season batting average by nearly 30 points (.291-.320).
• Bannon also leads XU with a 15 game reached base streak.
• Junior Mitch Gallagher (1-for-5, R, 4 RBI) also left the yard, hitting a fifth-inning grand slam.
• Joe Gellenbeck (1-for-3, 2 R, 4 RBI) led the team in RBI, hitting two sacrifice flies and clearing the bases with a triple in the fourth.
• Conor Grammes (2-for-6, R, RBI) had his team-leading 17th multi-hit game.
• Blaine Griffiths continued his hot hitting in BIG EAST play, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Griffiths also drew a walk, giving him eight in his last seven games. In four conference games, Griffiths is hitting .500 (7-for-14) with five runs scored and a .611 on-base percentage.
• Matt Fallon extended his hitting streak to six games, recording a 1-for-3 line with two walks and two runs scored. In his last six games, the senior center fielder is hitting .474 (9-for-19) with two homers, 11 runs and eight RBI.
• Chris Givin (1-for-4, R, RBI) also added a hit for Xavier after a 4-for-5 day in the weekend opener.
• The Musketeers worked seven walks as a team and have had a base on balls in all 40 games this season.
XU ON THE MOUND
• Garrett Schilling (3-3) picked up the win, throwing five innings and striking out four while allowing just one earned run (two total). The junior left after throwing 93 pitches.
• Brad Kirschner struck out three, but allowed four runs in the sixth on a pair of homers.
• Sully Stadler entered in the seventh, getting into trouble with a pair of walks and hits. After one run crossed on a bases-loaded walk, senior Trent Astle came into the game and promptly struck out three to get XU out of a major jam.
• Astle would finish with two innings pitched and four strikeouts, allowing two earned runs.
• Taylor Williams pitched the ninth, allowing one run before closing the game out.
HOW XU SCORED
FIRST INNING: Joe Gellenbeck worked a one out walk, moving up on a single to center by Rylan Bannon. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Conor Grammes lifted a single to center to score Gellenbeck. Chris Givin followed with a sacrifice fly to left to make it 2-0. Blaine Griffiths then singled to center to bring home Grammes and cap a three-run frame.
FOURTH INNING: Blaine Griffiths walked and went to second on a wild pitch to start the inning, moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Soria. Will LaRue then reached on a fielder’s choice to score Griffiths and promptly stole second. After a Matt Fallon walk, both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Joe Gellenbeck cleared the bases with a triple into the gap in right center. Rylan Bannon followed with a home run to deep right center to make it 8-2.
FIFTH INNING: Chris Givin and Blaine Griffiths had back-to-back singles and Nate Soria was hit with a pitch, loading the bases quickly. Two straight bases loaded walks brought runs across and a Butler pitching change. Mitch Gallagher greeted the reliever with a grand slam to left, making the score 14-2.
SIXTH INNING: Nate Soria led off with a walk, stealing second ahead of a Will LaRue walk. Both runners then moved up on a single by Matt Fallon. With the bases loaded and one out, Joe Gellenbeck connected for a sacrifice fly to center field. Rylan Bannon followed with a single down the third base line to score LaRue and make it 16-6.
EIGHTH INNING: Will LaRue singled up the middle and stole second, going to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a sacrifice fly to center by Joe Gellenbeck.
UP NEXT
• XU is back in action against Butler on Sunday, looking for the sweep of the Bulldogs at 12 p.m. at Hayden Field.
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