Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Villanova
Baseball Hosts Villanova in Final Regular Season Series at Hayden Field
05.16.18 | Baseball
CINCINNATI – Xavier baseball remains at home for one last regular season series this weekend, hosting BIG EAST foe Villanova for a three-game series at Hayden Field.
First pitch in the series will come on Thursday at 3 p.m. and will be followed by another 3 p.m. start on Friday. The series finale, will honor this year's graduating class, is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday and will be aired live on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
The Musketeers (18-34, 5-10 BIG EAST) are wrapping up the regular season this weekend, looking to end on a high note after officially being eliminated from postseason play with the result of last weekend's conference action. It will be just the second time since 2014 that XU has missed out on postseason play as the Musketeers have won the BIG EAST in three of their previous four seasons.
Villanova enters the weekend at 8-37 (0-15 BIG EAST).
Xavier is coming off its second straight BIG EAST Championship, beginning a new era with first year head coach Billy O'Conner after finishing the 2017 season with a 34-27 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament Louisville Regional Final. XU has made two straight appearances in a regional title game.
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PITCHING MATCHUPS |
| Game | Xavier | Opponent |
| 1 | Damien Richard, RHP | Jonathan Rosero, RHP |
| 2 | Nick Zwack, LHP | Jimmy Kingsbury, RHP |
| 3 | TBA | Tyler Arella, LHP |
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SERIES HISTORY |
• XU dropped two of last season's three-game set on the road against Villanova, but still holds an 8-5 edge in the all-time series.
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OPPONENT NOTABLES |
• Ryan Doty returns for his final year as the Wildcats top pitcher after posting an ERA of 3.82 in 2017.
• Villanova had two big holes to fill this season after lefty Hunter Schryver, one of the best pitchers in program history and a two-time First Team All-BIG EAST selection, was taken in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. Second baseman and leading hitter Todd Czinege was also chosen by the Colorado Rockies during the 29th round.
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PROJECTED LINEUP |
| Name | Class | Position | Hometown (HS) | Notes |
| Chris Givin | JR | SS | Castle Rock, Colo. | 2018 Preseason All-BIG EAST selection... leads team with a .333 batting average... six triples on the season, ranks first in the BIG EAST and 12th nationally... saw a season-high 18 game reached base streak snapped in the Friday game against St. John's... has reached in 25 of last 29 games... hitting .365 (42-for-115) with two homers and 27 RBI during the stretch... had a big day in a 14-3 win over NKU, going 4-for-6 with an RBI (5/15)... went 3-for-5 with a run scored, a double and an RBI in an 11-1 win at Penn State (5/11)... had a career-high 5-for-5 performance in loss at Butler, doubling and tripling while knocking in two runs (5/5)... went 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBI at NKU (4/24)... went 3-for-5 with a grand slam vs. EKU (4/25)... hit .556 (5-for-9) in the Creighton series, knocking in five runs with a homer and a triple... went 3-for-3 in the series opener against Creighton, homering and reaching base in all four of his plate appearances (4/18)... tied a career-high with four hits in a 4-for-5 performance against Wright State at the Joe Nuxhall Classic (4/11)... tied a career-high with four runs scored and went 3-for-5 with four RBI in 22-14 win over Eastern Kentucky (4/3)... went 4-for-5 with three RBI and a steal in a win at Miami (3/17)... had a huge game in the series opener at San Francisco, going 4-for-6 with a grand slam and a career-high five RBI (3/8)... returned to lineup after a brief recovery from injury and went 4-for-11 (.364) with two runs scored and an RBI in Spartanburg, S.C (2/20-24)... went 2-for-5 with a run scored in narrow 6-4 loss at No. 13 Louisville (2/27)... played and started in 43 games last season... All-BIG EAST Second Team selection at shortstop... 2017 preseason All-BIG EAST selection... third on team with a .302 batting average batting primarily in the leadoff spot... made return to lineup on March 29 at Miami (OH) after missing 17 games due to a hand injury... recorded a team-best 15 game hitting streak, hitting .400 (24-for-60) with 16 runs scored down the stretch... nearly walked more than he struck out on the season (25-to-26), helping him record a .395 on-base percentage... was third on team with a .345 (20-for-58) batting average in BIG EAST play... |
| Conor Grammes | SO | 2B | McLean, Va. (McLean) | 2018 Preseason All-BIG EAST selection... leads team with 22 multi-hit games... had a 13-game hitting streak come to an end on May 8 against UC.... second on team with nine homers... was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in a 14-3 win over NKU (5/15)... hit .400 (6-for-15) with three RBI in the Butler series, including three 2-for-5 days at the plate... hit .500 in the St. John's series, going 6-for-12 with a homer and three RBI... was 3-for-3 with a two-run homer in a loss to St. John's (4/28)... had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a pair of walks and a homer in game two of the weekend against Creighton (4/21)... went 2-for-4 with a homer and a pair of RBI in the series opener against Creighton (4/20)... was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored on Wednesday at UC... 3-for-5 with a home run in BIG EAST opener at Georgetown (3/6)... went 2-for-6 with a two-run homer in a 22-14 win at EKU (4/3)... hit .357 over the weekend (5-for-14) with a two-run homer in the series finale against DBU... went 1-for-4 with a homer in a 13-3 win over Miami (3/18)... went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI at Cal (3/6)... went 2-for-5 with a run scored at No. 13 Louisville on Tuesday (2/27)... went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored at No. 8 Kentucky (2/20)... hit .417 (5-for-12) with a homer and a pair of multi-hit games at No. 5 FSU to start the season... among the best freshmen in the BIG EAST a year ago... named BIG EAST Championships Most Outstanding Player after hitting .600 (9-for-15) with five runs, a homer and five RBI in three games... led team with 26 multi-hit games... ranked sixth in the league and led XU with a .341 batting average... fourth in the BIG EAST with 79 hits and 14 doubles... third in the league with 116 total bases... ranked eighth in the nation with eight sacrifice flies... reached base in 18 straight games and had a seven game hitting streak to close the season... |
| Joe Gellenbeck | GR | RF | Lebanon, Ohio (St. Xavier) | One of the top sluggers in the BIG EAST... back for a fifth season after redshirting in 2014... tied for second on team with eight homers this season... has a three-run homer in each of XU's last two weekend series... hit a big three-run homer in XU's 11-1 win at Penn State (5/11)... smacked a three-run homer in Friday's 9-6 win at Butler (5/4)... homered as part of a 2-for-3 day in the series finale against St. John's (4/29)... drove in three runs via sacrifice fly at UC (4/18)... went 2-for-4 with a homer in a 4-3 loss at Seton Hall (4/13)... 4-for-6 with a homer and five RBI in a 22-14 win at EKU (4/3)... went 2-for-4 with third homer of the season in a 2-0 win over Wright State (3/27)... went 3-for-3 with four runs scored and two homers in a 13-3 win over Miami (3/18)... named BIG EAST Player of the Week (2/26)... went 1-for-4 with an RBI at No. 13 Louisville (2/27)... hit .625 (10-for-16) with 17 total bases in four road games from 2/20-24... had a huge game in a win at No. 8 Kentucky, going 3-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored, including the go-ahead run in the 10th (2/20)... 2017 Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year... ranked third in the BIG EAST with 11 homers... led BIG EAST with 56 RBI... led team with 17 multi-RBI games... was a sneaky threat on the bases, going 12-for-12 in steals... hit .308 (4-for-13) with a homer and four RBI in the BIG EAST Championships... enters season with 24 career home runs... |
| Natale Monastra | SO | DH/C | Lewis Center, Ohio (Olentangy) | Has 11 multi-hit games this season... saw a seven game hitting streak snapped over the weekend... hit a solo homer and went 1-for-4 in a midweek loss to UC (5/8)... had a productive series at Butler, hitting .462 (6-for-13) with three doubles in three starts... hit .333 (4-for-12) with two doubles and three RBI in the St. John's series... was 2-for-5 with a solo homer in a loss to St. John's (4/28)... had a hit in all three games of the Creighton series... went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a homer in a 12-8 win in the series finale (4/22)... had a 2-for-3 day with a homer and three RBI in a 13-3 win over Miami (3/18)... went 2-for-3 with an RBI against No. 6 Kentucky (3/20)... had a 3-for-5 day with two doubles and an RBI in a win at USC Upstate (2/24)... |
| Nate Soria | SR | C/LF | Homer Glen, Ill. (St. Rita of Cascia) | Johnny Bench Award Watch List for the second time in career... XU has a catcher on the list for the fifth straight season... riding a five-game hitting streak... sneaky speed for a catcher and is 12-for-13 in steals this season... had a big day in a 14-3 win over NKU, going 3-for-6 with two runs scored and a solo homer (5/15)... posted three RBI in XU's 11-1 win at Penn State (5/11)... homered as part of a 2-for-4 day in a loss to St. John's (4/28)... went 6-for-9 (.667) in midweek action at NKU and vs. EKU (4/24-25)... had a big day in XU's win at NKU, going 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored (4/24)... was 1-for-4 with a solo homer against Wright State at the Joe Nuxhall Classic (4/11)... went 2-for-4 with a homer in BIG EAST opener at Georgetown (4/6)... was 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBI in a 22-14 win at EKU (4/3)... went 2-for-5 with a run scored in a 6-1 win over Southern (3/30)... produced one of XU's two runs with a sacrifice fly in a 2-0 win over Wright State (3/27)... had a solid west coast road trip, collecting hits in six of eight games... went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI at San Francisco (3/10)... went hitless in first five games this season, but hitting .292 (19-for-65) with a homer and six RBI since... appeared in 60 games with 57 starts in 2017... tied for third on team with seven homers... fifth on team with 30 RBI... tied for team lead with 10 HBP... preseason All-BIG EAST selection... named to 2017 Johnny Bench Award Watch List... fourth straight year XU has had a catcher on the list... threw out 44% of attempted base stealers (11-for-25)... has reached base in 108 of 139 games going back to 2015... finished season on a six-game hitting streak... went 6-for-15 (.400) with six RBI in the NCAA Tournament... |
| Matt Warkentin | JR | 1B | Leamington, Ontario (Leamington District Secondary) | 6-foot-6 athletic first baseman from Canada... transferred to XU this spring from Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas... leads team and BIG EAST with 13 homers... ranked 47th nationally in homers... was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of walks in a 14-3 win over NKU (5/15)... had a pair of multi-hit games in the Penn State series... went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI in XU's 11-1 win against the Nittany Lions (5/11)... launched a solo homer as part of a 1-for-4 day in Friday's win at Butler (5/4)... homered in all three games of the St. John's series... was 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in a 7-3 win over St. John's (4/27)... went 2-for-9 with a pair of homers in league doubleheader at SHU on Saturday... went 2-for-4 with a double and a homer against Miami (4/10)... hit .579 (11-for-19) over four games en route to a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (4/9)... posted a pair of three-hit games at Georgetown to open league play... had a huge game at EKU, going 5-for-6 with a homer, four runs scored and three RBI (4/3)... went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and a solo homer in a 6-1 win over Southern (3/30)... hit a solo homer in a loss at Indiana State (3/23)... hit one of eight homers for XU in a 13-3 win over Miami (3/18)... went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI in 14-6 win at San Francisco (3/8)... hit second home run of season on Tuesday at No. 13 Louisville... blasted first homer of season on Saturday against Presbyterian (2/24)... hit .351 with 12 homers and 55 RBI for JCC last season... began collegiate career at San Francisco... |
| Ryan Altenberger | FR | 3B | Morton, Ill. (Morton) | 11-for-13 in stolen base attempts... had a huge game in a 14-3 win over NKU, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI (5/15)... hit a solo homer and went 1-for-3 in a 7-3 win over St. John's (4/27)... had a perfect day at the plate in the Creighton series finale, helping XU to a 12-8 win with a 3-for-3 day, three runs scored, two doubles and an RBI... scored a season-high four runs in XU's 22-14 win at EKU on Tuesday (4/3)... went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk in XU's midweek win over Wright State (3/27)... helped XU to a sweep of Miami (OH) with a .462 batting average (6-for-13) across three games, scoring seven runs and hitting two homers... was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the performance (3/19)... went 3-for-8 (.375) in two starts at No. 5 FSU in place of Chris Givin, who was injured in the season opener... |
| Andrew Sexton | SO | CF | Cincinnati, Ohio (La Salle) | Has earned 24 starts after playing in just 12 games before an injury cut his 2017 season short as a freshman... leads team and is ranked 110th in nation with seven sacrifice bunts... second on team with 20 walks and leads XU with a .413 on-base percentage... smacked first homer of his college career, a three-run blast, in a 14-3 win over NKU (5/15)... had a two run bunt single against Creighton in a 12-8 win in the series finale (4/22)... occupied the leadoff spot for the first time and went 2-for-3 with a career-high three runs scored against Wright State (4/11)... |
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KEY PLAYERS OFF THE BENCH |
| Name | Class | Position | Hometown (HS) | Notes |
| Allbry Major | FR | OF | Indianapolis, Ind. (North Central) | 6-foot-5 switch hitter known for his athleticism... emerging as one of the top two-way players in the BIG EAST... Baseball America selected Major as its preseason BIG EAST Freshman of the Year... second on team with 13 multi-hit performances... hit .500 (5-for-10) in the St. John's series with a double and a pair of RBI... was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in a 7-3 win against St. John's (4/27)... hit .357 (5-for-14) in the Seton Hall series... went 2-for-5 in both ends of a doubleheader at SHU, homering in the series finale (4/14)... went 3-for-4 with first collegiate homer in 6-2 win at Georgetown to open BIG EAST play (4/6)... 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI in a 22-14 win at EKU (4/3)... led team with a .400 batting average over the weekend (4-for-10) and also knocked in three runs... 1-for-3 with a two-run double in a 6-1 win over Southern (3/30)... was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in XU's 2-0 win over Wright State (3/27)... went 3-for-7 (.429) with two RBI in two games at Indiana State (3/23)... went 1-for-3 with two RBI in the win over No. 8 Kentucky (2/20)... had a standout summer with Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, hitting .336 with two homers and 21 RBI... also posted a 3.34 ERA in 32.1 innings and struck out 44... named No. 15 MLB Draft prospect in the league following the season... posted top OF velocity at the Perfect Game Fall Showcase in 2016... father, Kendrick, ran track at Indiana State... |
| Ryan Fournier | JR | OF | Oregon, Ohio (Clay) | Has earned an increased role as the season has gone on, appearing in 24 games with 10 starts... was 3-for-4 with a career-high three runs scored in XU's 11-1 win at Penn State (5/11)... went 3-for-5 with an RBI vs. EKU (4/25)... homered as part of a 1-for-2 day in the series opener against Creighton (4/20)... went 2-for-3 with a triple against Wright State at the Joe Nuxhall Classic (4/11)... |
| Mitch Gallagher | SR | 2B | Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy) | Has appeared in 41 games with 24 starts... was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks in a 14-3 win over NKU (5/15)... had hits in all three games last weekend against Penn State... went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored at Butler (5/5)... had a pair of two-hit games in midweek play this past week... had a 2-for-4 game with a pair of runs scored vs. EKU (4/25)... went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored in a win against NKU (4/24)... went 1-for-3 with a homer in the series opener against Creighton (4/20)... played in 54 games, making 51 starts at shortstop and second base in 2017... hit .263 (50-for-190) with four homers and 32 RBI... fourth on team with 37 runs scored... third on team with 12 doubles... improved in league play, hitting .333 (15-for-45) with 10 runs scored, three homers and 13 RBI in 12 games... went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in XU's 7-6 win over Creighton to clinch a spot in the BIG EAST Championships title game (5/26)... |
| Blaine Griffiths | SR | DH/OF | Lebanon, Ohio (Lakota West) | Had a big game in a 14-3 win over NKU, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI... connected for his first career in-the-park homer in the first inning against the Norse... went 2-for-3 with his first career triple in XU's 11-1 win over Penn State (5/11)... cracked a solo homer off the bench in a 7-3 win over St. John's (4/27)... hit first homer of the season against Wofford (2/23)... named to 2017 All-BIG EAST Second Team after hitting .379 (11-for-29) with a homer and eight RBI in league play... three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree... |
| Sam Flamini | JR | INF | Yorkville, Ill. (Yorkville) | Two-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree... had a pair of multi-hit games at Penn State... went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in XU's 11-1 win against the Nittany Lions (5/11)... started and went 2-for-6 with two runs scored and his first career grand slam in a 22-14 win over EKU (4/3)... went 1-for-3 with a homer against Cal (3/6)... played in 34 games and made 16 starts in 2017, hitting .244 (19-for-78) with a homer, five RBI and 12 runs scored... |
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RECORD WATCH |
• Chris Givin has tied the XU single season record with six triples this season and needs just one to set a new mark. Currently, he is one of five different players to record six triples in a season.
• Givin's nine career triples are tied for fifth in XU history and he needs two to tie John McCambridge (2008-11) for fourth place in the record book.
• Matt Warkentin's 13 homers this season are tied for eighth in XU history. Currently, he is one of four Musketeers to record 13 bombs in a season. His next homer will move him into a tie with Andre Jernigan (2016) and Matt Watson (1999) for sixth on the single season list.
• Joe Gellenbeck is up to 32 career homers, which has him tied with Scott Gordon (1986-89) for sixth on the all-time list. He needs four more homers to tie Sean West (1993-96) for fifth in the record book.
• Joe Gellenbeck has 151 career RBI, which ranks sixth in XU history. He is 17 away from tying Dan Froehle (1982-86) for fifth.
• Nate Soria has been hit by a pitch 33 times in his career, which is now tied for fourth all-time at XU.
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X-PLOSIVE OFFENSE |
• Xavier has scored in double figures five times this season, plating a season-high 22 runs against EKU on April 3. Xavier has also had wins scoring 14 runs (at San Francisco), 13 runs (vs. Miami OH), 12 runs (vs. Creighton), 11 runs (at Penn State) and 14 runs (vs. NKU).
• In those five wins, XU has scored 86 of its 273 runs (31.5% of season output).
• XU clubbed eight homers in the win against Miami and another five in the EKU win.
• The Musketeers have been shut out just twice this season.
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ROAD WARRIORS |
• Xavier played 19 of its first 23 games away from Hayden Field and have played 36 road games total.
• The road schedule is now over after last weekend's set at Penn State, however, and XU is in the midst of a four-game homestand to close the season.
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STREAKING |
• Nate Soria leads XU with a five game hitting streak.
• Allbry Major leads XU with a 10-game streak of reaching base.
• Joe Gellenbeck has reached in a season-high 10 straight games.
• Xavier has worked at least one walk in 38 straight games.
• The Musketeers have homered at least once in 16 of 22 games.
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X CAN PICK IT |
• Xavier ranks 88th nationally with a .972 fielding percentage through 52 games and have committed 50 errors overall.
• XU was highly-ranked defensively last year as well and set a new school record in 2017 with a .977 fielding percentage, committing 52 errors in 61 games.
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BOMBS AWAY |
• Xavier leads the BIG EAST and ranks 26th nationally with 58 homers. XU is also 30th in the NCAA with 1.12 homers per game.
• Matt Warkentin leads the team and the BIG EAST with 13 homers, ranking 47th nationally. Conor Grammes is second on the team with nine homers and Joe Gellenbeck ranks third with eight blasts.
• 13 different Musketeers have contributed a home run this season.
• Xavier's 58 homers this year already rank seventh in program history for a single season. The team's next homer will tie the 2016 team, which smacked 59 homers, for sixth in the record book.
• Last year's team hit 61, which was third-most in XU history. The record is held by the 1997 team, which launched 64 homers.
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THE KING RETURNS |
• The Musketeers are coming off a third BIG EAST Championship run in four seasons after sweeping their way to a BIG EAST Championship in Omaha, Neb. this past May. XU swept the regular season and tournament titles in 2016 and also won the tournament in 2014, its first year in the league.
• Xavier went 34-27 (10-6 BIG EAST) a year ago and brings back 21 letterwinners from its most recent title run.
• Six everyday starters will be back for the Musketeers, including All-BIG EAST players Matt Kent, Chris Givin and Blaine Griffiths.
• Since joining the league in 2014, Xavier has won three of the four BIG EAST Championships (2014, 2016, 2017) and ranks third all-time in league championships with Seton Hall, Rutgers and Connecticut. XU and Seton Hall are tied for the most BIG EAST titles amongst current league members.
• With back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017, Xavier became the first team since Louisville in 2008 and 2009 to repeat as tournament champions.
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BILLY BALL |
• After a decorated playing career and four years as an assistant on the Xavier baseball staff, Billy O'Conner was named the program's seventh head coach in June following Scott Googins' departure after 12 seasons.
• Googins coached O'Conner as a player and was the program's all-time winningest coach at 341-357 (.489) and won four conference titles before accepting a position at Cincinnati in June.
• During his time on the staff, XU has posted three 30-win seasons, made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament and had eight players selected in the MLB First Year Player Draft. That number includes back-to-back years with multiple picks and a program record four selections in the 2017 draft.
• Prior to his time as an assistant at XU, O'Conner spent one year as an assistant at Northern Kentucky and two years in the volunteer assistant role at Xavier.
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2017 TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
• Xavier's 34 wins were second-most in school history and its .557 winning percentage was seventh-best in program history.
• XU swept its way to the BIG EAST title for a second straight year, improving to 9-1 all-time in the conference tournament.
• XU advanced to an NCAA Tournament Regional Final for the second straight year with a 2-2 record, defeating Oklahoma and Radford in the national tournament. Prior to 2016, the program had never won multiple games in an NCAA Tournament.
• Xavier went 10-6 in BIG EAST play to clinch third in the league and qualified for the BIG EAST Championships for the third time in four seasons as a member school.
• Xavier had back-to-back 30+ win seasons for just the second time in school history.
• Xavier set school records for team fielding percentage (.977) and strikeouts (461).
• XU hit the third most homers in a single season in program history as 14 different players left the yard.
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YOUNG GUNS |
• Due to graduation and the MLB Draft, Xavier lost seven pitchers, 60 starts and 373.1 innings of production from a year ago. That is roughly 70 percent of last year's innings pitched.
• Reliever Trey Schramm is the lone returner to have started a game last season.
• Xavier will begin the year with two true freshmen in the rotation in lefties Trevor Olson and Nick Zwack.
• Senior Damien Richard will serve as a weekend starter after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
• The opening weekend rotation came into the season with just five starts and 52.2 innings of career experience, all belonging to Damien Richard.
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DRAFTING MUSKETEERS |
• Zac Lowther was the highest-ever selection by a Xavier baseball player this past June, going in the second round compensatory selections. XU's previous high pick was Seth Willoughby, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2012 by the Colorado Rockies.
• Xavier had a program record four players selected in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Additionally, two committed players were taken in the draft for the first time in program history.
• Xavier's four draft picks were: Zac Lowther (Comp. Round B, 74th pick, Baltimore Orioles), Rylan Bannon (8th Round, 250th pick, LA Dodgers), Garrett Schilling (18th Round, 536th pick, Colorado Rockies), Greg Jacknewitz (22nd Round, 666th pick, San Francisco Giants)
• XU has now had multiple picks in each of the last two seasons. In 2016, Dan Rizzie went to the New York Mets in the 13th round and Andre Jernigan followed as a 14th round selection of the Minnesota Twins.
• Xavier has had at least one player drafted in 11 of the last 13 years.
• 16 total XU players have been drafted since 2005.
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PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS |
• The defending BIG EAST Tournament champions, Xavier was picked to finish second in the BIG EAST in 2018 during an annual vote conducted by the league's head coaches.
• XU was picked to finish second in the league for the first time.
• The Musketeers were selected to finish fourth in each of their first three seasons in the league until being picked to win the BIG EAST ahead of the 2017 season.
• Chris Givin, Conor Grammes and Matt Kent were each selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
First place votes in ( )
1. St. John's – 35 points (5)
2. Xavier – 30 pts. (2)
3. Creighton – 24 pts.
4. Seton Hall – 23 pts.
5. Butler – 18 pts.
6. Georgetown – 11 pts.
7. Villanova – 6 pts.
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LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE |
• Xavier will play a 56-game schedule in 2018, including 15 home dates and the three home series at Hayden Field. XU will travel to nine different states as part of its road schedule.
• The 2018 schedule features five NCAA Tournament participants (Florida State, Kentucky, Louisville, Dallas Baptist and St. John's). All five 2017 NCAA Tournament opponents were 40-game winners a year ago.
• Overall, the Musketeers will face a challenging schedule that features opponents that combined for a 727-629 (.536) record in 2017.
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XU TO HOST LEAGUE TOURNEY |
• Xavier will look to defend its title as the host of the 2018 BIG EAST Championships at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio. The four-team, double elimination tournament will run from May 24-27.
• It will be the first time Xavier has served as host of the league tournament. Prasco Park is about 20 miles north of Cincinnati and a 30-minute drive from Xavier's campus.
