CINCINNATI – Xavier baseball heads to Richmond, Ky. on Tuesday to face Eastern Kentucky at 5 p.m. in a midweek non-conference matchup.
The Musketeers (9-17) won their weekend opener at Southern, but dropped back-to-back games to Dallas Baptist to wrap up the weekend.
EKU comes into the game 12-16, but on a three-game winning streak after a weekend road sweep of UT Martin.
This is the second time weather has impacted this series this season. The two teams were schedule to play at Hayden Field on Tuesday, but are now moving south to avoid inclement weather in the forecast. on Wednesday, March 21 in Richmond, Ky. but that game was cancelled due to inclement weather and has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. and will now be played at Hayden Field.
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.
| Game |
Xavier |
Opponent |
| 1 |
Nick Zwack, LHP |
Darren Williams, RHP |
• EKU leads the all-time series, 25-19.
• EKU owns wins over No. 15 Virginia and No. 11 Vanderbilt this season.
• 2017 record: 24-32, 10-20 OVC
• Six Colonels hit .305 or better last season and EKU returns junior Alex Holderbach, who hit .355 with 11 homers last season.
• Daniel Harris IV is ranked as the number one freshman in the OVC coming into the season and was a Perfect Game 500 recruit. He hit .492 as a high school senior.
• Last season, senior Ben Fisher led the team with an EKU record 25 homers and ranked third in the NCAA. He was drafted in the 21st round by the Miami Marlins.
| Name |
Class |
Position |
Hometown (HS) |
Notes |
| Ryan Altenberger |
FR |
LF |
Morton, Ill. (Morton) |
Tied for team high with an 11 game reached base streak... leads team and is a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts... 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... |
| Chris Givin |
JR |
SS |
Castle Rock, Colo. |
2018 Preseason All-BIG EAST selection... had a five game hit streak snapped on Tuesday against Wright State... 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... |
| 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... 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 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... |
| Conor Grammes |
SO |
3B |
McLean, Va. (McLean) |
2018 Preseason All-BIG EAST selection... leads team with an 11-game hitting streak... tied for team lead with an 11 game reached base streak... leads team with 11 multi-hit games.... 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... |
| Allbry Major |
FR |
CF |
Indianapolis, Ind. (North Central) |
6-foot-5 switch hitter known for his athleticism... Baseball America selected Major as its preseason BIG EAST Freshman of the Year... riding a six-game hiting streak... 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)... will make fourth career start this weekend... has also been a weapon out of the bullpen, striking out seven with a 1.35 ERA in 6.2 innings of work... 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... |
| Natale Monastra |
SO |
DH |
Lewis Center, Ohio (Olentangy) |
Third on team with a .300 batting average... second on team with seven multi-hit games... 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 |
C |
SR |
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... 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 with five homers... 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... |
| Mitch Gallagher |
SR |
2B |
Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy) |
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)... |
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|
KEY PLAYERS OFF THE BENCH |
| Name |
Class |
Position |
Hometown (HS) |
Notes |
| Blaine Griffiths |
SR |
DH/OF |
Lebanon, Ohio (Lakota West) |
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... |
| Andrew Sexton |
SO |
OF |
Cincinnati, Ohio (La Salle) |
Has earned 15 starts after playing in just 12 games before an injury cut his 2017 season short as a freshman... leads team and is ranked 26th in nation with six sacrifice bunts... second on team with nine walks... |
| Sam Flamini |
JR |
INF |
Yorkville, Ill. (Yorkville) |
Two-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree... 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... |
• Xavier played 19 of its first 23 games away from Hayden Field. The Musketeers are in the middle of another stretch that will feature 12-of-13 games coming on the road.
• Xavier ranks 29th nationally with a .978 fielding percentage through 26 games and have committed 20 errors overall with just five coming in their last 11 games.
• XU set a new school record in 2017 with a .977 fielding percentage, committing just 52 errors in 61 games.
• Xavier leads the BIG EAST and ranks 100th nationally with 19 home runs.
• Matt Warkentin leads the team with five homers, while Joe Gellenbeck and Conor Grammes rank second with three blasts apiece.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Closer 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.
• 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.
• 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.
