Baseball Opens 2021 Season at Texas A&M

Saturday, February 20

College Station, Texas

3:00 PM ET

Xavier University

Texas A&M

02.19.21 | Baseball

Live Stats Watch Live

Musketeers and Aggies to play doubleheader on Saturday, finale on Sunday

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier baseball heads to College Station, Texas, this weekend to kick off the 2021 season with a three-game series against Texas A&M. Game one with the Aggies is set for 3:00 p.m ET on Saturday, Feb. 20, pushed back from Friday. Game two will follow approximately 30 minutes after game one, and the finale is set for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.

All three games will be streamed through SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app.

PROBABLE STARTERS

	XAVIER	TEXAS A&M
Game 1	Lane Flamm (RHP)	Bryce Miller (RHP)
Game 2	Nick Zwack (LHP)	Dustin Saenz (LHP)
Game 3	Griffin Lanoue (RHP)	Jonathan Childress (LHP)

OPPONENT NOTABLES

The series with Xavier will open the season for Texas A&M.
The Aggies were picked to finish fifth in the SEC Western Division in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Texas A&M started the 2020 season with 10 straight wins, and were 15-3 and ranked No. 21 in the country when the season was canceled.
Junior Bryce Miller, making his first start as an Aggie, has a career ERA of 3.00 in 36.0 IP. In 2020 he allowed four earned runs on six hits in 7.1 innings.
Dustin Saenz is a junior who made seven career starts, including a pair last season. In five appearances last season, he had a 3.97 ERA in 11.1 innings of work.
Sunday starter Jonathan Childress has made five appearances for the Aggies during his career, starting in all five, and has a career ERA of 1.31 in 20.2 innings pitched. In 2020, he made two starts, and allowed just three hits, without giving up a run, in 8.0 innings of work, picking up the win in both outings.
This will be the first meeting between the two programs.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lane Flamm, a preseason all-conference pick in 2020, appeared in 12 games, making 10 starts, including four starts on the mound for the Musketeers last season. Flamm finished the season with an ERA of 5.73 through 22.0 innings pitched, allowing 14 earned runs on 20 hits with 14 walks, striking out 16 along the way.
As a freshman, in 2019 the righty emerged as the Musketeers' go-to closer, appearing in 25 games as a reliever. Flamm finished with an ERA of 2.68 overall and 1.80 in BIG EAST action, collecting eight saves in 53.2 innings of work in 2019, with four coming in against conference opponents.
Nick Zwack, a preseason All-BIG EAST selection, is coming off a 2020 season where he posted a 2.31 ERA in four starts, collecting a record of 2-2 for the abbreviated season. In 23.1 innings pitched, a team-high, Zwack allowed just six earned runs on 10 hits and nine walks, while striking out a team-high 28 along the way.
In 2019, Zwack made 20 appearances with 12 starts, finishing with a record of 4-3 and an ERA of 6.28. Zwack gave up 37 earned runs on 61 hits, struck out 43 and walked just 24 in 53.0 innings of work as a sophomore.
Griffin Lanoue made four starts on the mound in in 2020, allowing just nine earned runs off of 17 hits in 11.1 innings of work for a 7.15 ERA against the No. 2 ranked strength of schedule. Lanoue had nine strike outs and nine walks for the season.
In 2019, Lanoue made 10 starts in 13 appearances during 2019, finishing the season with a 3-3 record after allowing 34 earned runs on 54 hits, while striking out 25 in 45.1 innings of work.

THE BULLPEN

Sophomore Jonathan Kelly appeared made five appearances out of the bullpen, pitching 6.0 innings with a team-best ERA of 1.50 in shortened 2020 season, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk, striking out five along the way. He picked up the first win of his collegiate career against No. 17 Long Beach State after holding the Dirtbags scoreless in the extra frames, going 2.0 innings with just one hit allowed overall.
Sophomore Jack Lynch was named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American following a 2020 season where he posted a 1.69 ERA through 10.2 innings of work in five appearances. Lynch allowed just one earned run on four hits and a walk, while striking out five. He picked up the first win of his college career in his first outing, helping the Musketeers to a 9-6 win against Memphis, and also pitched season-high five innings in the 2-1 win at No. 17 Long Beach State, allowing no runs on two hits with a season-best four strikeouts.
Sophomore Xander Rojahn made six appearances, including one start, in 2020, pitching 14.0 innings, a team-high among Xavier's relievers. Rojahn finished with a 5.79 ERA, allowing nine earned runs on 11 hits with nine walks and 15 strikeouts.
Trevor Olson made five appearances, including a pair of starts, in 2020, allowing 13 earned runs on 19 hits and four walks for 10.97 ERA. Olson struck out five on the season, including a season-high three against Ole Miss.
In 2019, Olson appeared in 22 games and made one start. The junior left-hander ended 2019 with an ERA of 6.19 in 36.1 innings of work, with 31 strikeouts to just 16 bases on balls.
Trey Schramm made seven appearances in 2020, pitching a total of 7.1 innings and allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits and two walks for a 10.57 ERA while recording four strikeouts. Schramm led the Musketeers with a pair of saves.
Schramm appeared in 20 games in relief for the Musketeers in 2019. The righty went 3-2 on the season with an ERA of 5.66 in 35.0 innings of work, allowing 22 earned runs on 38 hits with 19 strikeouts.
Sam Czabala, a lefty, pitched 6.2 innings in four appearances during season shortened 2020 season. He collected six strikeouts and walked just one in 30 batters faced and ended the season with an ERA of 6.75, allowing five earned runs on six hits.
Czabala made 18 relief appearances in 2019, posting an ERA of 3.44 in 34.0 innings pitched with a record of 3-2. Czabala allowed just 13 earned runs on 26 hits with 27 strikeouts to his credit and just 10 walks.
Xavier also returns relievers Ethan Bosacker, Evan Miller, Shawn Hepler who made appearances last season, as well as sophomore Michael Dillon, Jared Gadd, Connor Gill, Luke McCollough, Bobby Spencer and Cooper Williams.
The Musketeers add transfer Luke Bell (Chandler-Gilbert) in addition to newcomers Connor Bailey, Nick Boyle, Dorsey Chatham, Colin Clifford, Miles Halligan and Bobby Jones.

BEHIND THE PLATE

Natale Monastra, the coaches' preseason pick at catcher for a second-straight season, made 15 appearances in 2020, finishing with a .230 average at the plate, collecting 14 hits and scoring 10 runs, both team highs. Monastra had a .992 fielding percentage when the 2020 season came to a close.
In 2019, Monastra batted .237 overall, with a .313 average in 15 BIG EAST appearances, collecting 15 hits against conference opponents, including a team-high three triples. Monastra finished the 2019 season with a fielding percentage of .997, the highest among Xavier's regular players. Monastra has just one error in 51 appearances, and has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 13 starts in BIG EAST play.
Luke Stephenson returns as a key utility player making three starts at catcher in 2020, in addition to seven starts in the outfield. Stephenson collected four hits in 33 at bats, including three doubles to match team-high, bringing in two RBI and scoring four runs.
Stephenson made 28 appearances in 2019, including 12 starts at catcher, batting .203 on the season and .231 in conference play.
Xavier also adds freshman Matthew DePrey at catcher.

X IN THE OUTFIELD

Luke Franzoni started in all 15 games in 2020, primarily in right field, collected 13 hits in 54 at bats. Franzoni had 12 RBI for the season, matching the team-high, and scored eight runs, and had a team-best three home runs and .407 slugging percentage.
In 2019, Franzoni made 42 appearances, including 32 starts, mostly in center field. Franzoni hit .254 for his freshman season, hitting his stride during BIG EAST play where batted .320 in 14 appearances with a .620 slugging percentage, boosted by a team-high four home runs against BIG EAST opponents. Franzoni led the Musketeers with 11 homers overall for a team-best slugging percentage of .563 for the season. His 35 RBI from 2019 are the most among Xavier's returnees.
Garrett Schultz's started in the outfield in all 15 games in 2020, making eight starts in center. Schultz finished his rookie season with a .228 average at the plate after collecting 13 hits in 57 at-bats, bringing in 12 RBI, second most on the team. For the season, he had three doubles, matching for team high, and two home runs, for a .386 slugging percentage, third highest on the team.
Andrew Sexton appeared in 13 games, starting in seven games in center field. Sexton collected three hits and seven bases on balls for a .357 on-base percentage, second highest on the team.
Andrew Walker appeared in 11 games, starting in eight in season in 2020, including seven starts in left field. He collected four hits and six walks, scoring four runs and bringing in four RBI for the season.
Xavier returns reserve Jack Krumbach, and adds transfers Alex Helmin (Arizona State) and Tyler DeMartino (West Virginia) to its outfield roster.

MUSKETEER INFIELD

Jack Housinger was named Preseason All-BIG EAST for a second-straight season prior to his junior campaign. In 2020, he started in 15 games, batting .232 with 13 hits and and nine runs. Housinger had a team-best 12 walks and .377 on-base percentage in the abbreviated season against the second-toughest schedule in the country.
As a freshman, he batted .275 on the season, with 47 hits and a team-high matching 36 walks for an on-base percentage of .407. Housinger had 12 doubles on the season, with five coming in BIG EAST play. Housinger finished his freshman year with fielding percentage of .974.
Ryan Altenberger appeared in 10 games, starting in nine in 2020. During his junior season, he batted .212 in 33 plate appearances, collecting seven hits, including a double, a triple and a home run. On defense he had a .942 fielding percentage playing primarily in the middle infield, and was part of team-high nine double plays.
Last season, Altenberger was a preseason All-BIG EAST selection after a 2019 campaign where he hit .259 in 158 plate appearances, scoring 32 runs on 41 hits and 27 walks. He finished 2019 with a slugging percentage of .443, finishing with 12 doubles a triple and five home runs, collecting multiple hits in 11 games last year. He also collected eight stolen bases in 14 attempts in 2019.
In 2020, Kody Darcy made 13 appearances, including 12 starts, in season shortened to 15 games, collecting six hits and two walks in 41 at bats for a .146 batting average. For the season he knocked in two RBI and scored three runs. Darcy finished with two doubles, and two home runs, matching the second most on the team, for a slugging percentage of .341. On defense he made seven appearances at shortstop and five at second base, finishing the season with a .960 fielding percentage.
In 2019, Darcy appeared in Xavier's starting line-up 26 times, including 10 conference match-ups during his freshman season, primarily at third base. Darcy batted .170 overall but had a mark of .206 in 11 BIG EAST appearances, scoring seven runs on seven hits.
In addition to making six appearances on the mound, Jonathan Kelly also made seven starts playing at first base for the Musketeers. He collected four hits in 29 at-bats, including a season-high two in win over Charleston and had four walks on the season.
Xavier also returns Sam Olson and Eddie Rivero who each made multiple starts in the infield for the Musketeers, as well as junior Jackson Kaplowitz, and adds transfers Jared Cushing (Texas Tech) and Jeff Holtz (Madison College) in addition to freshman Grant Stephenson.

ROAD WARRIORS

Xavier opens the season on the road, playing 16 away games before opening the home portion of the schedule on Saturday, March 20 against Cincinnati.
Overall, Xavier will play 34 games on the road, including trips to two SEC opponents, Texas A&M and Auburn, as well as Wofford, Mercer and Evansville in non-conference action.
Xavier will also face BIG EAST opponents St. John's, Villanova and Creighton on the road for four-game series.
Xavier will play home and away with local rivals Cincinnati and Dayton, with each team hosting two of the four-game series.
The Musketeers will host BIG EAST opponents Butler, UConn, Seton Hall and Georgetown for four-game series.

BIG (EAST) SUCCESS

The Musketeers have made four of six of the four-team BIG EAST Tournaments since joining the conference, and claiming the tournament championship three times (2014, 2016, 2017), as well as winning the regular season title in 2016.
The Musketeers went 12-4 in a 2019 conference schedule abbreviated by two rain-outs, earning the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, and advanced to the BIG EAST Championship series.

PRESEASON PICKS

Ahead of the 2021, Xavier was picked the finish fifth in BIG EAST in the preseason coaches poll.
Additionally, three Musketeers, Natale Monastra, Jack Housinger and Nick Zwack, were named to the the BIG EAST Preseason All-Conference list, as voted on by the coaches.
Graduate student Natale Monastra, the coaches' preseason pick at catcher, has appeared in 150 games as a Musketeer, starting in 128. In 15 appearances in 2020, Monastra had a .230 average at the plate, collecting 14 hits and scoring 10 runs, both team highs, against the nation's second toughest schedule.
Junior Jack Housinger, a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection in the infield, has appeared in 70 games for the Musketeers, starting in 65 of those. He started in 15 games in 2020, batting .232 with 13 hits and and nine runs. Housinger had a team-best 12 walks and .377 on-base percentage in the abbreviated season against the second-toughest schedule in the country.
Senior lefty Nick Zwack is a preseason All-Conference selection coming off a 2020 season where he posted a 2.31 ERA in four starts, collecting a record of 2-2 for the abbreviated season. In 23.1 innings pitched, a team-high, Zwack allowed just six earned runs on 10 hits and nine walks, while striking out a team-high 28 along the way. Zwack allowed just two hits in 5.2 innings in a win at Memphis, striking out nine, which matched his season-high in a 7.0 inning outing against No. 17 Long Beach State. In a win at Charleston, Zwack also went 7.0 innings, allowing no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts.

Preseason Coaches Poll

Connecticut (5)	45
Creighton (2)	44
Seton Hall (1)	35
St. John's	33
Xavier	26
Villanova	19
Butler	15
Georgetown	7

First-place votes denoted in ( )

Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Tyler Shedler-McAvoy, Seton Hall, Grad Student, OF
Kyler Fedko, UConn, So., OF

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Connor Schultz, Butler, Sr., RHP

Preseason All-BIG EAST

Natale Monastra, Xavier, Grad Student., C

Matt Toke, Seton Hall, Grad Student, 1B ^

Christian Fedko, UConn, Jr., 2B

Jack Housinger, Xavier, Jr., 2B

Jake Lazarro, St. John's, RS-Fr., SS

Eddie McCabe, Georgetown, Sr., 3B/DH

Reggie Crawford, UConn., RS-Fr., DH

A.J. Lotsis, Georgetown, Grad Student, DH/OF

Tyler Shedler-McAvoy, Seton Hall, Grad Student, OF ^

Kyler Fedko, UConn, So., OF

Connor Schultz, Butler, Sr., RHP ^

Gordon Graceffo, Villanova, Jr., RHP

Ian Murphy, St. John's, RS-So., RHP

Nick Zwack, Xavier, Sr., LHP

Caleb Wurster, UConn, LHP (Relief)

^ denotes unanimous selection

MUSKETEERS IN THE DRAFT

Xavier had pair of selections in the 2019 MLB Draft, with Conor Grammes going in the fifth round to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chris Givin selected in the 19th round by the San Diego Padres. The pair's selection marked the third time in four years multiple Musketeers were taken.
Lefty pitcher Zac Lowther was the highest-ever selection by a Xavier baseball player, going in the second round compensatory selections of the 2017 MLB Draft at 74th overall.
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 has had at least one player drafted in 12 of the last 15 years.
19 total XU players have been drafted since 1999.

XU TO HOST LEAGUE TOURNEY

The 2021 BIG EAST Baseball Championship presented by Jeep will be co-hosted by Xavier baseball at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio during Memorial Day Weekend.
The BIG EAST announced in 2019 that Prasco Park would serve as host through 2022, extending the partnership, which began in 2018, through five years. Xavier will remain the co-host of the annual postseason tournament.