By: Nikhil Jelaji ~Staff Writer~

 

The 10th ranked Louisville Cardinals marked a six-run seventh inning to help close out the Xavier Musketeers by a score of 12-3 in Sunday’s game in Louisville.

The Cardinals (21-6) scored two runs in the first and third in­nings to grab a four-run lead.

Freshman infielder Andre Jernigan hit a single to left field and brought home junior Derek Hasenbeck, bringing the deficit to three with a score of 4-1.

In the seventh inning, Louisville scored six runs on five hits.

With Xavier trailing 11-1 and the bases loaded, the Musketeers had an opportunity to take action in the eighth inning.

Redshirt junior Bo Slemons grabbed a RBI off of a groundout back to the mound.

Jernigan walked in the eighth inning, loading the bases. After a pitching change and a grounder to third by senior Jake Forrester, the inning ended in a closing double play.

The Cardinals claimed another run in the bottom of the eighth inning to push the score to 12-3. Nittoli took the loss, bringing his overall record to 3-2. Junior Sean Campbell also gave up four runs on five hits after pitching two-plus innings.

Redshirt senior Markus Kuykendoll and freshman Jason Hall also pitched for the Musketeers.

Kuykendoll allowed two runs on two hits in the seventh. Campbell gave up one run on a hit and a walk in the eighth inning.

Redshirt junior Brian Bruening, Jernigan and Slemons drove in all three of the Musketeers’ runs.

Pitcher Anthony Kidston was credited with the victory, improv­ing to 2-0 on the year and pitching for six innings, allowing just one run on two hits and three walks.

The Musketeers return to Cincinnati, where they will host Wright State at 3 p.m. on April 2 at Hayden Field.