Baseball Selected Second in BIG EAST Preseason Poll

NEW YORK - Two-time defending BIG EAST champion Xavier baseball was selected to finish second in the conference on Tuesday as three players earned preseason All-BIG EAST honors as a result of annual voting conducted by the league's head coaches.

Juniors Chris Givin and Matt Kent, as well as sophomore Conor Grammes, were each voted to the preseason All-BIG EAST Team. XU's three preseason All-BIG EAST selections are the second-most for the program. The Musketeers had a program record seven players recognized on the team a year ago.

Givin was selected to the preseason All-BIG EAST Team for the second time in his career, while Kent and Grammes made their first appearance after excellent 2017 seasons.

Givin, a 2017 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection, returns as XU's starting shortstop after hitting .302 in 43 starts during the 2017 season. A tough out at the top of the lineup, Givin worked 25 walks against just 26 strikeouts to post a .395 on-base percentage. The Castle Rock, Colo. native had a team-best 15 game hitting streak down the stretch, batting .400 (24-for-60) and scoring 16 runs as XU made another run to a league title.

Kent, a 2017 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, is coming off a breakout sophomore season after posting a 1.74 ERA in 23 appearances out of the bullpen. The junior righty went 5-2 with 34 strikeouts in 46.2 innings pitched and did not allow a run in 19 of 23 outings.

Grammes had one of the best freshman seasons in program history, hitting a team-best .341 with seven homers and 41 RBI while leading XU with 79 hits and tying for the team-lead with 14 doubles. The McLean, Va. native was also selected the BIG EAST Championships Most Outstanding Player after hitting .600 (9-for-15) with five runs, a homer and five RBI in three games to help XU to the title.

The Musketeers begin the 2018 season on Friday, Feb. 16 at Florida State for a three-game series in Tallahassee, Fla.

PRESEASON POLL

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.

POLL NOTES

• 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.

PRESEASON AWARDS

Preseason Co-Players of the Year – Anthony Brocato, St. John's, Sr., OF; Tyler Houston, Butler, Sr. OF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Sean Mooney, St. John's, So., SP (RHP) ^

Preseason All-BIG EAST ^
Michael Emodi, Creighton, Jr., C
John Valente, St. John's, RS-Sr., 1B
Josh Shaw, St. John's, Jr., 2B
Chris Givin, Xavier, So., SS
Ryan Weisenberg, Georgetown, Jr., 3B
Connor Grammes, Xavier, So., DH
Tyler Houston, Butler, Sr., OF ^
Anthony Brocato, St. John's, Sr., OF ^
Ryan Ramiz, Seton Hall, Sr., OF
Garrett Christman, Butler, Sr., SP (RHP)
Sean Mooney, St. John's, So., SP (RHP) ^
Cullen Dana, Seton Hall, Jr., SP (LHP) ^
Shane McCarthy, Seton Hall, Sr., SP (RHP)
Joe LaSorsa, St. John's, So., RP (LHP)
Matt Kent, Xavier, Jr., RP (RHP)

^ indicates unanimous selection

ABOUT XAVIER

• 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.
• 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.

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