NEW ORLEANS - The Xavier baseball team showed signs of promise, but came up short in a 12-4 loss to No.20 Texas A&M Victoria here Friday night. 

The game was close through 5 innings, with XULA (5-18, 2-11 RRAC) trailing 3-2. However, the Jaguars (21-9, 11-2 RRAC) scored four in the top of the sixth, two in the top of the seventh, and three in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach.

Xavier showed heart throughout and scored a pair of runs in their final at-bat before A&M Victoria registered the game's last out. 

Offensively, the Gold Rush got a great showing from center fielder and two-hole batter Cohen Boyd, who went 2-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored. First baseman Kai Higginson went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

All told, XULA used five pitchers, who combined to strike out 7 Jaguars. Dominik Reimonenq (0-2) started and worked 5.1 innings while striking out 3. 

The teams wrap their series with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Skelly-Rupp Stadium.