Courtesy: goxavier.com
 Bauer and Thomas Each Bat in Two Runs in 6-4 win over UMass |
CINCINNATI – With three runs in the seventh inning, Xavier baseball overcame visiting Massachusetts, 6-4, Sunday afternoon at Hayden Field to take the series sweep and move closer to its fourth consecutive appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship. Four senior team members were recognized prior to the start of the game, their last home contest as a Musketeer.
XU improved to 22-30 on the season and 15-9 in league play while UM slips to 17-26 overall and 11-13 in conference action. With four total hits on the day, only four Musketeers recorded hits in the win.
Junior Phil Bauer's two-run shot in the seventh proved to be the game winner
Senior Zac Richard did double duty, hitting in the sixth slot as the designated hitter and also tossing 2.2 innings of middle relief to collect his third pitching win of the season.
Heading into the seventh inning, the Minutemen were clinging to a 4-3 lead. Junior John McCambridge doubled in redshirt sophomore Matt Kleifges and got to third with a ground out by senior Drew Schmidt. Junior Phil Bauer’s lone hit of the day was the difference maker as he sent the first pitch he faced over the fence for a two-run go-ahead homer. XU finished the inning ahead, 6-4, which proved to be the final margin.
Richard (3-0) got the win for XU after throwing 2.2 scoreless innings giving up only one hit and striking out three. Freshman Seth Willoughby closed out the game for the Musketeers, collecting his fourth saves of the season. Start sophomore Josh Deeg threw six innings for XU, scattering seven hits and striking out five.
Massachusetts’ Bryan Leigh tossed the entire game for the Minutemen to take the loss, moving him to 5-5 on the year. He scattered four hits and struck out four.
UM was led by Eric Fredette and Tom Conley with two hits apiece.
The Musketeers will play a single midweek game at Ohio University on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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