INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler baseball team improved to 29-14 on the year (6-5 BIG EAST) after defeating Xavier on Sunday afternoon by the final score of 6-4. BU scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and a sac fly from
Michael Hartnagel in the second would round out the scoring effort.
Zach Jarosz and
Tyler Houston each singled to right field to get the game underway. Jarosz was moving on the pitch and made it to third base with ease. A sacrifice fly to center from
Gehrig Parker would score Jarosz and Houston would move into scoring position during the next at-bat with a stolen base. The senior outfielder would come around to score off an RBI single from
Garrett Christman.
Harrison Freed would single in the first and
Connor Christman would load the bases after being walked.
Duncan Hewitt would help build the early lead with a two-RBI single through the left side. A Xavier fielding error would extend the inning and allow BU to jump out in front 5-0.
Hewitt and Houston each posted two hits for Butler. Hewitt was the team leader with two RBI and Houston led the club with two runs scored.
Xavier chipped away at the lead by scoring two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. The two teams would have to exit the field of play in the top of the ninth inning due to a lengthy lightning delay. After the lightning and rain passed, Butler would get two fly balls to center and a strikeout to end the game.
Garrett Christman picked up the win on the mound for Butler to even his record at 4-4. The senior righty tossed five full before handing the ball off to
Brock Balderson. Balderson was efficient during his two-inning outing. He limited the Musketeers to just two hits, but more importantly kept Xavier off the scoreboard.
Jack Pilcher would enter the game in the eighth, looking for the six-out save. He opened the eighth with a strikeout, but would walk the next two batters. BU got out of trouble with an inning-ending double play. Givin hit a hard line drive right at Hartnagel and a quick flip back to the bag would double up Gallagher.
Butler will return to action on Wednesday, May 9 with a 4PM first pitch against the Toledo Rockets.
