XULA falls to Fisher again, eliminated from A.I.I. Tournament

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Xavier University of Louisiana was eliminated Sunday night from the Association of Independent Institutions Championship tournament when it lost 12-9 to Fisher.

XULA finished 1-2 in the double-elimination event — both losses were to Fisher, a Boston team — and is 27-11 overall in its first baseball season since 1960.

The Falcons (31-19) scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never lost the lead. XULA got as close as 6-5 in the sixth, but Fisher pulled away with six runs in the bottom of the eighth.

XULA tied its season high with 16 hits, three apiece by Antonio Rodriguez, Blair Frederick, Michael Sonn and Jonathan Santos. Santos and Co Co Simoneaux had two RBIs apiece.

Reynaldo Mejia had four RBIs and John Batista two for Fisher. Mitchell Lundholm went 3-for-3 and scored three times.

Fisher had 28 baserunners: 10 hits, 13 walks and five hit batters.

Earlier Sunday, XULA stayed alive in the four-team tournament with a 16-5 victory against Crowley’s Ridge.

Outfielder Michael Sonn led XULA in the tournament with a .667 batting average (8-for-12) and five RBIs in three games.

Fisher, which lost 12-4 Sunday to Georgia Gwinnett to fall into the losers bracket, will play the Grizzlies for the championship Monday. Both Fisher and Georgia Gwinnett will receive the A.I.I.’s two automatic bids to NAIA nationals.

The NAIA will announce Thursday the 46 teams that qualified for nationals and opening-round pairings. XULA ranked 54th among NAIA teams in the Bo Chip Power Index through Thursday games.