May 23, 2013

BOX SCORE | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Fourth-seeded Xavier got an unearned ninth inning run to defeat top-seeded Saint Louis 7-6 Thursday afternoon in the first game of day two at the 2013 A-10 Baseball Championship in Charlotte.

Xavier improves to 32-24 on the season and will advance to play at Noon on Friday against the winner of Rhode Island and Charlotte. Saint Louis (36-19) will have to play Richmond in an elimination game at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

A see-saw battle started with Xavier picking up single runs in each of the first three innings.

With XU leading 3-1 in the fifth inning, Saint Louis' Alex Kelly connected for a three-run homerun to left, putting the Billikens in front 4-3.

A Michael Bozarth solo home run extended the Saint Louis lead to 5-3 in the sixth inning, before the Musketeers rallied in the top of the seventh, tying the game on a two-out RBI single by Stephen Schoettmer

Saint Louis loaded the bases in the home half of the seventh inning and pushed across a run when Alec Sole drew a walk that scored Grant Nelson to make it 6-5.

Mark Elwell responded for XU when he led off the eighth inning with a solo home run to tie the game at 6-6.

In the ninth inning, Patrick Paligraf led the inning off with a single and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs in the inning, Selby Chidemo hit a hard line drive to the outfield; the ball was misplayed and allowed Paligraf to score the go-ahead run.

Saint Louis was able to get a two out double in the ninth, but Xavier's Alex Vice was able to get a ground ball out to seal the game for XU.

Vice tossed 2.1 innings of relief to pick up the win and even his record at 2-2 on the season. Matt Eckelmann was saddled with the loss, dropping his record to 6-1 on the year.

Each game of the 2013 A-10 Baseball Championship can be viewed live via webstream on the Atlantic 10's online home -- www.atlantic10.com.