By Spencer Tracy, Staff Writer

The Musketeers baseball team brought their A-game Wednesday night against their crosstown rival, taking the season series victory after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats 6-4 on their home field. A bullpen game of five pitchers combined and six runs on seven hits was enough to bring the Muskies ahead of the Bearcats. 

 Senior right-hander and three-time Big East All-American Connor Bailey toed the rubber for the first three innings, allowing six hits on four runs. Fortunately, cleanup hitter and graduate student Jared Crushing was seeing the ball well, collecting two hits in five at-bats and leading the team in both categories. Senior infielder Matt McCormick let some fireworks off early, smashing a two-run homer to left-center field in the fifth inning, tying the game at 4-4. It was his 12^th homerun of the year, making him the highest scoring player on the team. 

Each team stagnant at four runs headed into the eighth inning, junior outfielder Carter Hendrickson stepped into the box with the go-ahead run on first and just one out. On a 2-2 count, Hendrickson sent a down-and-in fastball into orbit down the left field line, only to be told he hooked it foul. However, Xavier skipper Billy O’Connor had a different opinion and asked for a replay review. After further review, home plate umpire Grady Smith twirled his right index finger in the air, signaling a home run for Hendrickson. More importantly, the Musketeers grabbed a two-run lead with just six outs away from victory. 

Credit to Xavier’s offense is deserved for creating six runs through 14 base runners, but a large reason Xavier won this game was due to the four relievers who combined for six innings on three hits and zero runs allowed. Nolan Hughes, Nick Boyle, Alex Vera and Jake Lambdin helped shutout the Bearcats the rest of the game despite allowing seven walks. Keeping the Cats bats quiet limited the damage and was just enough to allow Hendrickson’s go-ahead home run to squeak around the left foul pole. 

Freshman two-way star Jake Lambdin, who started the game at shortstop and ended it on the mound, wanted to make O’Connor and Musketeer fans sweat it out in the ninth inning. A leadoff double brought the tying run to the plate with no outs for the Bearcats. However, Lambdin’s maturity on the mound and competitive nature is what has earned him this role as a freshman, so he was able to strike out the next two Bearcat hitters. Lambdin recorded the final out on a groundout to his position replacement at shortstop, senior Grand Stephanson, as the Musketeer dugout emptied onto the field.

Strong pitching and timely hitting lifted the Musketeers to victory to take the season series. A hard-fought win on the road against their crosstown rival was a perfect motivating boost to finish the second half of the season before the Big East Tournament in late May. The Musketeers are currently 20-19 (5-4) and fourth in the Big East.