Box Score

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Eastern Kentucky University lost 7-3 at Xavier University on Tuesday.  The Musketeers entered the game ranked 45th in the NCAA RPI.
 
EKU will host first place Lipscomb for a three-game ASUN Conference series starting Friday at 6 p.m.
 
Xavier (26-15) scored five in the bottom of the first to grab an early lead.  Jared Cushing had a two-run double down the left field line in the big inning.
 
The Colonels (19-22) got on the board in the top of the third when Santiago Peralta hit a solo home run that cleared the wall in left center.  It was the second home run of his career and first since 2021.
 
Roderick Criss II cut the deficit to three, 5-2, with a solo home run in the fourth.  It was his seventh of the season.  DJ Sullivan drove in a run in the sixth on a ground ball to make it a two-run game, but EKU never got any closer.
 
In the bottom half of the sixth, Tyler Demartino hit a two-run home run for Xavier to push it back to a four-run lead, 7-3.
 
Peralta finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI for the Colonels.  Vladimir Ceverino, Joe Clancy and Bryce Travis each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.  Gavin Faulkner tossed an inning and a third of scoreless relief.
 
Demartino had a 3-for-4 day with two runs and three RBIs for Xavier.  Matt McCormick went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI.