Xavier University Athletics
Friday, April 15
Washington, D.C.
4 P.M.
Xavier University
at
Georgetown
Baseball Opens Conference Play at Georgetown this Weekend
04.14.16 | Baseball
Head coach Scott Googins needs one win to set the all-time wins record at Xavier
CINCINNATI – Xavier baseball opens conference play this weekend, traveling to Georgetown for a three-game set at Shirley Povich Field.
The Musketeers are 12-22 overall and coming off an 8-5, comeback win against UC on Wednesday.
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• Just one year removed from a BIG EAST Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, Xavier is looking to rebound after a frustrating 15-38 (3-15 BIG EAST) season in 2015.
• The Musketeers are off to a 12-22 start, playing 25 of their first 34 away from Hayden Field. The competition has been stiff early, as six of XU's first nine weekend opponents were 2015 NCAA Tournament teams.
• Head coach Scott Googins is in his 11th season in 2016 with 19 returners, including All-BIG EAST pitcher Trent Astle and BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Nate Soria. Seniors Dan Rizzie and Andre Jernigan were also selected preseason All-BIG EAST.
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• Head coach Scott Googins, now in his 11th year at Xavier, tied former coach John Morrey for most wins in school history on Wednesday.
• Googins has 287 wins in his first 10+ seasons, while Morrey had the same win total over 12 years (1993-2004).
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• The Hoyas are 15-19 overall and 4-4 at home, including a 12-5 win over George Mason on Tuesday. GU started BIG EAST play last weekend, dropping two of three against St. John's in Queens, N.Y.Â
• Michael DeRenzi paces the offense with a .352 batting average (2 HR, 16 RBI) and also provides some speed for the Hoyas with 13 steals and three triples on the year.
• Four Hoyas boast batting lines at .300 or better, including DeRenzi, Cristian Sanchez (.324), Chase Bushor (.320) and Eric Garza (.303).
• Friday starter Matt Smith comes into the weekend at 3-3 with a 5.01 ERA in 46.2 innings. The senior righty was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2015.
• Saturday starter Simon Mathews has a pair of complete games and a 2.98 ERA in 54.1 innings. The junior has struck out 32 and allowed 67 hits.
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• Xavier ranks 31st in the nation with 32 homers and is 35th in home runs per game (0.94).
• The Musketeers have homered at least once in 13 of their last 19 games, totaling 23 longballs over that span, although XU did not connect for a homer in last weekend's series against Morehead State.
• Andre Jernigan and Joe Gellenbeck both rank 42nd in the nation and are tied for the team lead with eight homers through 34 games.
• Both have surpassed last year's team leader in homers, Derek Hasenbeck, who hit six in 53 games.
• Xavier has already passed last season's team total of 27 longballs.
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• Xavier ranks 63rd in the nation with a fielding percentage of .972.
• XU has committed 34 errors in 34 games, including 11 games without an error at all.
• Catcher Dan Rizzie has been a standout behind the plate, throwing out 62 percent (13-for-21) of attempted base stealers with just one error this season.
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• Xavier's sweep of Central Michigan from March 18-20 was its second of the season and gave the Musketeers a four-game winning streak for the first time since April 9-13, 2014.
• Xavier's last weekend sweep came at USC Upstate from March 4-6 and snapped a season-opening seven game losing streak.
• Prior to that, XU's last weekend sweep was from April 11-13, 2014 against Villanova at Hayden Field.
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• With 61 stolen bases, XU ranks 10th nationally in steals and 12th in steals per game (1.85).
• Xavier stole seven bases in back-to-back games at Mercer, tallying 17 for the weekend series.
• Prior to the Mercer series (Feb. 26-28), the last time Xavier stole seven bases in a game was on March 31, 2015 at Dayton.
• Sophomore Will LaRue ranks ninth in the nation with 22 steals and 12th in the nation with 0.67 steals per game.
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• Outside of junior Brad Kirschner, who entered the year with 99.1 career innings pitched, the options for Xavier in the bullpen came into 2016 with a combined 31 appearances and 32.2 innings pitched.• The bullpen options consist of 12 pitchers, but no seniors. Two juniors, four sophomores and six freshmen make up the 'pen.
• Seven arms came into 2016 without a single career appearance. Glass and Makarewicz will be making their respective career debuts when they next take the hill.
• Four true freshmen – Schramm, Williams, Malone and Czabala – all made their Xavier debuts during opening weekend at Arizona State. Matt Kent made his career debut on Friday, March 25 at UC, setting down the Bearcats in 1-2-3 fashion.
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• Xavier has just three seniors on the 2016 roster after graduating 14 from its 2015 squad.
• The Musketeers lost 15 letterwinners overall and have 13 newcomers on the 2016 roster.
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• Xavier was picked fourth in the BIG EAST preseason coaches' poll, coming in just behind Seton Hall, Creighton and St. John's.
• It's the third straight season the Musketeers have been selected to finish fourth in the poll.
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• Senior Andre Jernigan has reached base the hard way at a prolific clip, getting hit by a pitch 11 times in each of the last two seasons. Both seasons are tied for eighth all-time in the XU record book.
• Jernigan has been clipped by a pitch eight times already this season, moving into fourth all-time in XU history in HBP.
• Jernigan's career total of 30 – including two during Xavier's series against ASU and two more against Vandy – is fourth all-time at Xavier, trailing leader Mark Elwell (41 HBP, 2009-13) by 12.
• Sophomore Nate Soria reached via HBP 12 times as a freshman, a mark that was tied for fifth in a single season by a Musketeer.
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• Xavier's 22 opponents posted a combined record of 672-565 (.543) in 2015, which averages out to 30.5 wins per team.
• 15 of Xavier's 22 opponents had records of .500 or better last season.
• Xavier faces eight NCAA Tournament teams from 2015, including five in its first six series of the non-conference season.
• The combined 2015 record for XU's first six opponents is 226-140 (.618).
• Eight teams made trips to the 2015 NCAA Tournament, including Arizona State, Mercer, Wright State, Louisville, Morehead State, Indiana, Vanderbilt and St. John's.
• Xavier faces four teams that won at least 41 games in 2015, including Wright State (43), Vanderbilt (51), Louisville (47) and St. John's (41).
• In addition, eight more teams on the schedule posted 30-win seasons in 2015.
• The 2014 NCAA Champions, Vanderbilt advanced to the College World Series again last season before losing to Virginia in the best-of-three series. The Commodores have won at least 51 games in each of the last three seasons.
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• The 2016 BIG EAST Tournament will be held in Aberdeen, Md. at Ripken Stadium – home of the Baltimore Orioles Single-A affiliate Aberdeen IronBirds.
• It will be the third different venue in the last three years for the conference tournament after stops in Brooklyn, N.Y. (2014) and Omaha, Neb. (2015).
The Musketeers are 12-22 overall and coming off an 8-5, comeback win against UC on Wednesday.
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 | Â THE MATCHUP |
|  Date – Time |  Follow Live |  Projected Starters |
|  Fri., April 15 – 4 p.m. |  Stats / Watch ($) / @XavierBASE |  LHP Zac Lowther vs. RHP Matt Smith |
|  Sat., April 16 – 3 p.m. |  Stats / Watch ($) / @XavierBASE |  LHP Brad Kirschner vs. RHP Simon Mathews |
|  Sun., April 17 – 1 p.m. |  Stats / Watch ($) / @XavierBASE |  TBA vs. TBA |
| Â AROUND THE HORN |
• The Musketeers are off to a 12-22 start, playing 25 of their first 34 away from Hayden Field. The competition has been stiff early, as six of XU's first nine weekend opponents were 2015 NCAA Tournament teams.
• Head coach Scott Googins is in his 11th season in 2016 with 19 returners, including All-BIG EAST pitcher Trent Astle and BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Nate Soria. Seniors Dan Rizzie and Andre Jernigan were also selected preseason All-BIG EAST.
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| Â GOOGINS CLOSING IN ON XU MARK |
• Googins has 287 wins in his first 10+ seasons, while Morrey had the same win total over 12 years (1993-2004).
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| Â SCOUTING GEORGETOWN |
• Michael DeRenzi paces the offense with a .352 batting average (2 HR, 16 RBI) and also provides some speed for the Hoyas with 13 steals and three triples on the year.
• Four Hoyas boast batting lines at .300 or better, including DeRenzi, Cristian Sanchez (.324), Chase Bushor (.320) and Eric Garza (.303).
• Friday starter Matt Smith comes into the weekend at 3-3 with a 5.01 ERA in 46.2 innings. The senior righty was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2015.
• Saturday starter Simon Mathews has a pair of complete games and a 2.98 ERA in 54.1 innings. The junior has struck out 32 and allowed 67 hits.
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| Â PROJECTED LINEUP |
| Name (Class) | Position | Notes |
| Will LaRue (So.) | Left Field | Ranks fourth on team with a .267 batting average and ranks ninth nationally with 22 stolen bases, including two last weekend against Morehead State... |
| Chris Givin (Fr.) | Second Base | Has started at second in 18 of last 20 games... second on team with a .284 batting average... has a hit in eight of his last 10 games... ripped second career triple on Wednesday, scoring twice and knocking in two runs against UC... |
| Daniel Rizzie (Sr.) | Catcher | 2016 Preseason All-BIG EAST... missed most of last season with hand injury... has hits in 11 of last 13 games... batting .371 (26-for-70) with five homers in last 18 starts... leads team with 14 multi-hit games... |
| Joe Gellenbeck (Jr.) | First Base | Has homered in eight of XU's nine weekend series... tied for team lead with eight homers... leads XU with 26 RBI... hit first career home run in game two of Feb. 20 doubleheader at ASU... |
| Andre Jernigan (Sr.) | Shortstop | 2016 Preseason All-BIG EAST... tied for team lead in homers (8)... leading team with eight HBP and 22 runs scored... has made 142 starts at SS in last three-plus seasons... |
| Nate Soria (So.) | Right Field | Led 2015 team in BA (.335), 2B (11) and OBP (.420)... has reached base in 54 of last 64 games going back to 2015... coming off back-to-back multiple hit performances in midweek games at Miami and vs. Cincinnati (5-for-7, 2 R, 2 RBI)... |
| Blaine Griffiths (So.) | Designated Hitter | Has started 18 of last 22 games... reached base in 13 of last 18 games... had a career-high three hits on April 3 at Illinois State... tied for second on team with 17 walks... |
| Rylan Bannon (So.) | Third Base | Started season 0-for-16 and is 26-for-82 (.317) with three homers and 10 RBI since... had an 11-game hitting streak snapped on Tuesday at Miami (OH)... named to BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday after hitting .500 last week... |
| Matt Fallon (Jr.) | Center Field | Transfer from Black Hawk College... has reached base in 28 of 33 games this season... |
| Â PROJECTED STARTER |
| Day | Name (Class) | Throws | Notes |
| Fri. | Zac Lowther (So.) | LHP | Has lasted at least five innings in all eight of his turns so far as the Friday night starter... leads team in innings (50) and strikeouts (44)... turned in a brilliant start at USC Upstate (3/4), tying career-highs with seven innings of one-run ball... struck out a career-high eight in six innings of shutout ball against CMU (3/18)... spun six innings of scoreless ball against Illinois State on Friday, striking out seven to improve to 3-3... won again last Friday (4/8), limiting Morehead State to one run over seven innings... |
| Sat. | Brad Kirschner (Jr.) | LHP | Taking third turn in weekend rotation in 2016... made seven relief appearances before starts in his last four outings... has a 4.50 ERA as a starter (20 innings, 10 ER, 15 K)... |
| Sun. | TBA | - | - |
| Â BULLPEN |
| Name (Class) | Throws | Notes |
| Garrett Schilling (So.) | RHP | Second on team with 12 appearances... second on team with a 1.42 ERA... has thrown 14 straight innings without giving up an earned run... Earned back-to-back saves in games two and three at USC Upstate and leads XU with five saves... put up a career-high three innings of one-run relief in game four at ASU... |
| Brandon Johnson (So.) | RHP | Allowed five earned runs in first career start in game three at ASU... tossed a scoreless inning at nationally-ranked Louisville (3/15)... |
| Trey Schramm (Fr.) | RHP | Tied for team lead with 13 appearances... has pitched 1+ innings in 12 of 13 appearances... Threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in career debut at ASU... tossed 3.2 innings with four strikeouts in series finale at Mercer... earned first career win in Saturday game at USC Upstate, going three innings and striking out three... tied a season-high with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief on Sunday against Morehead State... pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief on Wednesday against UC... has thrown five straight scoreless innings... |
| Taylor Williams (Fr.) | RHP | Tied for team lead with 13 appearances... sparkled in career debut, striking out six in 2.1 innings of relief at ASU... struck out three in two innings of quality relief at UC last Friday... has turned in back-to-back-back scoreless outings, tossing two innings at Ball State and against Morehead State... went a career-high four innings on Tuesday at Miami, striking out four... riding an 8.1 inning scoreless streak... |
| Jason Hall (Jr.) | RHP | Made season debut on Sunday at Mercer, tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief... threw a scoreless inning at Illinois State (4/1)... |
| Matt Kent (Fr.) | RHP | Leads team with 0.69 ERA in 13 innings... didn't make career debut until March 25 at Cincinnati, but tossed 10.1 innings before allowing an earned run... still has yet to allow an earned run in relief (9 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 8 K)... coming off first career start at Miami (OH) in which he threw four innings and allowed just one earned run... |
| Damien Richard (So.) | RHP | Fourth on team with 10 appearances, including seven out of the bullpen and three starts... has made two turns in weekend rotation... started first career game at Wright State (3/8)... has thrown 18.2 innings out of the bullpen, compiling a 2.47 ERA as a reliever... tossed five innings, allowing three runs and striking out three to get the win at Illinois State (4/3)... struggled with command in last start vs. Morehead State, walking six and allowing three runs in 3.2 innings... |
| Trent Astle (Jr.) | LHP | 2015 All-BIG EAST Second Team... off to a slow start with a 8.91 ERA in eight starts... third on team with 34.1 innings pitched... |
| Greg Jacknewitz (Jr.) | LHP | Has made eight starts and one appearance out of the bullpen... twirled 6.2 innings of two-run ball in first outing at ASU... went six innings and allowed just two runs in a win at USC Upstate (3/5)... struck out five in 2.1 innings of relief on Wednesday against UC... |
| Â BOMBS AWAY |
• The Musketeers have homered at least once in 13 of their last 19 games, totaling 23 longballs over that span, although XU did not connect for a homer in last weekend's series against Morehead State.
• Andre Jernigan and Joe Gellenbeck both rank 42nd in the nation and are tied for the team lead with eight homers through 34 games.
• Both have surpassed last year's team leader in homers, Derek Hasenbeck, who hit six in 53 games.
• Xavier has already passed last season's team total of 27 longballs.
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| Â X CAN PICK IT |
• XU has committed 34 errors in 34 games, including 11 games without an error at all.
• Catcher Dan Rizzie has been a standout behind the plate, throwing out 62 percent (13-for-21) of attempted base stealers with just one error this season.
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| Â BUSTING OUT THE BROOMS |
• Xavier's last weekend sweep came at USC Upstate from March 4-6 and snapped a season-opening seven game losing streak.
• Prior to that, XU's last weekend sweep was from April 11-13, 2014 against Villanova at Hayden Field.
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| Â BASE BURGLARS |
• Xavier stole seven bases in back-to-back games at Mercer, tallying 17 for the weekend series.
• Prior to the Mercer series (Feb. 26-28), the last time Xavier stole seven bases in a game was on March 31, 2015 at Dayton.
• Sophomore Will LaRue ranks ninth in the nation with 22 steals and 12th in the nation with 0.67 steals per game.
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| Â YOUNG GUNS IN THE 'PEN |
• Seven arms came into 2016 without a single career appearance. Glass and Makarewicz will be making their respective career debuts when they next take the hill.
• Four true freshmen – Schramm, Williams, Malone and Czabala – all made their Xavier debuts during opening weekend at Arizona State. Matt Kent made his career debut on Friday, March 25 at UC, setting down the Bearcats in 1-2-3 fashion.
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| Â YOUTH MOVEMENT |
• The Musketeers lost 15 letterwinners overall and have 13 newcomers on the 2016 roster.
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| Â BIG EAST PROGNOSTICATIONS |
• It's the third straight season the Musketeers have been selected to finish fourth in the poll.
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| Â TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM |
• Jernigan has been clipped by a pitch eight times already this season, moving into fourth all-time in XU history in HBP.
• Jernigan's career total of 30 – including two during Xavier's series against ASU and two more against Vandy – is fourth all-time at Xavier, trailing leader Mark Elwell (41 HBP, 2009-13) by 12.
• Sophomore Nate Soria reached via HBP 12 times as a freshman, a mark that was tied for fifth in a single season by a Musketeer.
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| Â 2016 OPPONENT BREAKDOWN |
• 15 of Xavier's 22 opponents had records of .500 or better last season.
• Xavier faces eight NCAA Tournament teams from 2015, including five in its first six series of the non-conference season.
• The combined 2015 record for XU's first six opponents is 226-140 (.618).
• Eight teams made trips to the 2015 NCAA Tournament, including Arizona State, Mercer, Wright State, Louisville, Morehead State, Indiana, Vanderbilt and St. John's.
• Xavier faces four teams that won at least 41 games in 2015, including Wright State (43), Vanderbilt (51), Louisville (47) and St. John's (41).
• In addition, eight more teams on the schedule posted 30-win seasons in 2015.
• The 2014 NCAA Champions, Vanderbilt advanced to the College World Series again last season before losing to Virginia in the best-of-three series. The Commodores have won at least 51 games in each of the last three seasons.
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| Â 2016 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT |
• It will be the third different venue in the last three years for the conference tournament after stops in Brooklyn, N.Y. (2014) and Omaha, Neb. (2015).
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/ BaseballHIGHLIGHTS | Baseball vs. UConn (BIG EAST Tournament)
Thursday, May 22
HIGHLIGHTS | Baseball at Penn State (Game 3)
Saturday, May 17
HIGHLIGHTS | Baseball at Creighton (Game Three)
Sunday, May 11
HIGHLIGHTS | Baseball at Creighton (Game 2)
Sunday, May 11