Xavier wins slugfest over Stillman, 18-14

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Jeremy Moore’s three-run double completed a five-run ninth inning Friday that rallied Xavier University of Louisiana to an 18-14 baseball victory against Stillman.

Moore finished with six RBIs.

Xavier (2-1) and Stillman (0-1) will conclude their three-game series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader Saturday. XULA’s next home games will be Tuesday in 3 p.m. doubleheader against NAIA No. 20 Mobile at Wesley Barrow Stadium.

XULA, in its first season of baseball since 1960, rallied from 6-0 and 11-3 deficits. XULA tied the score at 14 in the ninth when Courtland Posey was hit by pitch with the bases loaded, then Carlos Hernandez walked to put XULA ahead to stay. Moore then followed with his bases-clearing double.

XULA’s only other lead was 13-12 in the seventh when Antonio Rodriguezz scored on a one-out error.

Stellar pitching was a rare commodity — the teams combined for 372 pitches, 21 hits, 23 walks, eight hit batters and seven wild pitches in the nearly 4 1/2-hour game — but Jamal Allen (1-0) produced it for XULA with his scoreless final two innings, including 1-2-3 in the ninth.