Feb. 29, 2008

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Aft­er a three hour and 10 minute rain delay, the Xavier baseball team fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 12-9, in the first game of the Music City Invitational hosted by Vanderbilt University at Hawkins Field. Senior Robbie Kelley and sophomore Zac Richard both went the distance during the game but a five-run seventh for the Hawkeyes proved to be too much to overcome.

 

In the first inning, Xavier went three up, three down and headed into the bottom of the frame. Iowa had the bases loaded when Ben Geelan flied out to right field for the third out of the inning as junior lefty Charlie Leesman got out of the inning without any damage.

 

Richard got the offense going for the Musketeers to start the second in a big way as he blasted a home run to right center, his second of the year, to give Xavier the 1-0 advantage. With two outs, junior shortstop Jordan Conley reached first on a throwing error by the second baseman and junior catcher Billy O'Conner singled to right field. Freshman third baseman John McCambridge was walked to load the bases and junior center fielder Adam Pasono stepped to the plate. Pasono doubled down the left field line, scoring all three runners, to put XU up, 4-0.

 

Iowa got three runs back after Kyle Riffel doubled down the left field line and Wes Freie singled to center field. The bases were loaded after Kurtis Muller was walked and Kevin Hoef batted in two runs with a double down the left line. Justin Toole grounded out to third and then Muller was able to score on a ground out to the pitcher. On a full count with two outs, the Musketeers got out of the inning as Tyson Blaser was put out at first, with a one-run lead, 4-3.

 

The Hawkeyes tied the score in the bottom of the third as Matt Mossey singled to left center, advancing on an error and made it to third on a fielder's choice. Riffel singled up the middle to score Mossey to notch the game at four apiece. Riffel then stole third and was able to come across on a Musketeer error and Iowa went ahead by one, 5-4.

 

In the top of the fourth, junior right fielder Jack Bonnikson singled to right center and Conley singled up the middle. O'Conner reached on an error by the Hawkeyes' shortstop, allowing Bonnikson to score, and then advanced on a throwing error. McCambridge singled to center field but was picked off at first and Pasono flied out to center field. Junior second baseman Steve Brown singled to left center and Kelley hit a long ball over the left center wall, his second home run of the year, to wrap up Xavier's five-run inning as XU took the lead back, 9-5.

 

Riffel led off the bottom of the fifth with a pop up to the shortstop but Freie sent a long ball ricocheting off the top of the big green wall in right field to pull Iowa within three, 9-6. Muller singled up the middle, advanced on a throwing error and made it to third on a single by Hoef. Muller was brought across on a fielder's choice as Toole made it to first but was caught stealing at second. The inning ended with XU up, 9-7.

 

Geelan led off the bottom of the seventh with a deep shot to right but Bonnikson made a tough catch at the wall to notch the first out of the inning. Riffel was hit by a pitch and Freie singled to left field. Muller flied out to center and Hoef was also hit. Senior right-handed pitcher Mike Creevy relieved junior Brett Greenwell on the mound and then Toole singled to left, scoring two runs and tying the game at nine-all. Caleb Curry singled up the middle as Hoef came across. Blaser's double up the left line scored two more and Iowa ended the frame up three, 12-9.

 

The Hawkeyes went three up, three down in the bottom of the eighth but the Musketeers were unable to put together a rally in the top of the ninth to overcome their three-run deficit.

 

Up next for the Musketeers is a 1 p.m. (12 p.m. CT) match up with Kansas on day two of the Music City Invitational at Hawkins Field on Vanderbilt University's campus. Live stats will be available for that game.

 

Xavier 040 500 000 - 9 13 5
Iowa 032 020 50X - 12 15 3

Win - Alberts (1-0); Loss - Greenwell (0-1). Save - None
WP - Creevy (1); Alberts. HBP - by Leesman (Mossey); by Erdman (Kelley); by Greenwell (Riffel); by Greenwell (Hoef).