RICHMOND, Ky. – Sophomore Matt Davis' two-run two-out single in the bottom of the ninth sent the game into extra innings but it wasn't enough as Matt Waskerwitz hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th to lead the Xavier Musketeers past the Eastern Kentucky baseball team 8-7 on Wednesday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field. The Colonels fall to 15-17-1 with the loss while the Musketeers improve to 17-20.
The Colonels entered the ninth down 7-5 but put runners on first and second with one out against Xavier closer David Hartman. Senior Tony Wells then struck out for the second out to bring up Davis. A passed ball moved the runners up to second and third and Davis, who just missed a game-winning home run on the previous pitch, lined a single to left to tie the game. Hartman then got senior Shawn Flora on grounder back to the mound to escape the jam.
The Musketeers answered back quickly though against EKU reliever Chris Hord in the 10th, as Robbie Kelley singled with one out and then moved to third on a Chris Lozan double. Eastern then elected to intentionally walk Tyler Aholt to load the bases and Waskerwitz lofted a fly to center field to bring home Kelley who made it home just ahead of the throw from senior Tony Wells.
Eastern put a man on second with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Hartman got junior Joe Oliver to ground out to third and sophomore Aaron Barrows to pop up to the shortstop to end the game.
Junior Clint Seymour gave the Colonels the early lead in the third, lining a solo home run over the right-center field fence.
EKU starter Jim Clancy cruised through the early part of the game as he did not allow hit until Jordan Wolf doubled with two outs in the fourth. He stranded him there though, striking out Zac Richard.
The Musketeers finally broke through in the sixth against Clancy though, putting up four runs. Aholt walked to lead off, moved to second on Waskerwitz single and then scored the first Xavier run on a Neil Lindgren single to left. Steve Brown then sacrificed down the third base line which Clancy fielded and threw wide of first allowing Waskerwitz and Lindgren to score. Brown, who went to third on the error, came home when Adam Lipski beat out a potential double play at first.
Eastern got two of those runs right back in the bottom of the inning, as junior Lucas Waters led off with a long home run to left and Wells followed with his third home run in the last two days.
The Musketeers pushed their lead to back to three in the seventh, getting runs on an Eastern wild pitch and a Brown RBI single.
EKU cut the lead back to one in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with none out and then getting consecutive sacrifice flies from Waters and Wells.
Graham (1-0) picked up the victory despite blowing the save in the ninth. Freshman Chris Hord (1-3) took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits in 3.0 innings of work. Clancy received a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on four hits in 5.1 innings.
Eastern returns to conference play this weekend, hosting Jacksonville State for a three-game series beginning with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
