George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Xavier
Baseball Drops A-10 Doubleheader at Xavier
5/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 16, 2008
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
CINCINNATI, OH - In their final series of the 2008 season, George Washington baseball lost both games in an Atlantic 10 Conference doubleheader at Xavier as the teams opened their three-game series Friday afternoon at Hayden Field in Cincinnati, OH. With the loss in game one, GW was officially eliminated from postseason play. The Colonials needed a sweep of the Musketeers, plus help from other teams, to earn a spot in the 2008 A-10 Championship.
In the opening game, GW built a 7-1 lead after the first four innings, but was outscored the rest of the way, 8-1, as Xavier rallied with a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth, 9-8. The Musketeers cruised in the second game, 9-1, behind a complete-game effort from starting pitcher Michael Lewis, who struck out six.
GW scored a run in the 2nd and 3rd innings of the opening game as they built a 2-1 lead after three innings. In the top of the 4th, the Colonials exploded for five runs, as the first three batters reached on singles. After a sac-fly by Sean Rockey (Sammamish, WA/Eastlake/Columbia Basin CC) drove in a pair of runs, thanks to a Xavier throwing error, Tom Zebroski (Port Washington, NY/Paul Schreiber) followed with another base-hit, an RBI-single to left. Two more singles and a strikeout loaded the bases with two-outs for junior Tim Reeves (Cumming, GA/North Forsyth) who delivered, singling through the left-side to drive in two runs and give the Colonials a 7-1 advantage.
Xavier fought back and scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 7-5, and then added two more in the 8th to tie the game. In the top of the 9th, GW senior OF Charlie Kruer (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge), who finished the game 4-for-5, hit a solo home run to reclaim the lead, 8-7, but it would be short-lived, as the Musketeers rallied for two runs in their last-ups, plating the game-winning run on a single hit by John McCambridge. Kruer's homer gave him his second straight season of at least 13 home runs. He now ranks 4th all-time at GW with 39 in his career.
Brett Greenwell (2-2) picked up the win for Xavier while GW's Jimmy Duggan (Jefferson, MD/St. John's Prospect Hall) suffered the loss to fall to 0-3.
In the nightcap, Xavier's Michael Lewis got the start and held the GW bats in check all day, scattering nine hits as he allowed just one run and struck out six. Four times he retired the side in order. GW's lone run came in the top of the 4th inning, as Tim Reeves singled to lead-off, advanced to second on Brendon Kelliher's (Sandwich, MA/Sandwich) single and then scored on a base-hit into left-center off the bat of Gavin Swanson (Reisterstown, MD/Calvert Hall College). Reeves finished 3-for-4.
Xavier was led offensively by Adam Pasano, who was 3-for-4 with four RBI. Lucas improved to 6-2 with the win, while GW's Pat Lehman (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) was tagged with the loss and fell to 6-5.
George Washington (26-28, 11-15 A-10) and Xavier (24-29, 18-18 A-10) play the final game of their A-10 series Saturday, May 17, at 12:00 p.m.
- GW -
