Xavier Baseball Opens West Coast Trip at UC Santa Barbara

Friday, March 3

Santa Barbara, CA

8:05 PM ET

Xavier University

UC Santa Barbara

Xavier Baseball Opens West Coast Trip at UC Santa Barbara

03.02.23 | Baseball

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Musketeers and Gauchos set to play three, starting at 8:05 PM ET on Friday

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier baseball kicks off an eight-game West Coast swing this weekend at UC Santa Barbara, taking on the Gauchos in three games, starting Friday, March 3, set for an 8:05 PM ET start. Game two is set for a 7:05 PM ET start on Saturday and the series wraps up on Sunday, with a 4:05 PM ET first pitch.

All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ on the WatchESPN platform.

Xavier (4-5) enters the series on a four-game winning streak after sweeping Western Carolina and taking the mid-week match-up at NKU.

STARTING ROTATION

	Xavier	UC Santa Barbara
Friday	Ethan Bosacker (RHP)	Mike Gutierrez (LHP)
Saturday	Brant Alazaus (LHP)	Matt Ager (RHP)
Sunday	Nick Boyle (RHP)	Reed Moring (RHP)

OPPONENT NOTABLES

UCSB is 5-2 on the season, coming off a three-game sweep of Oregon last weekend. The Gauchos also have a pair of wins over Minnesota from the Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic in Arizona.
The Gauchos are currently ranked as high as No. 11 by Collegiate Baseball. They're also receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
UC Santa Barbara was picked to repeat as conference champions in 2023, with the conference's 11 head coaches picking the Gauchos to finish first in the Big West again this season.
The Gauchos went 44-14 overall last year, with a 27-3 record in the Big West, winning the regular season title and earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
UCSB earned a spot in the Stanford Regional where the Gauchos fell to No. 13 Texas State before picking up a win over Binghamton. They were eliminated by Stanford.
Xavier is 0-2 all-time against UC Santa Barbara.
The two prior meetings between the Musketeers and the Gauchos came in the 2016 NCAA Tournament Nashville Regional.
After topping host Vanderbilt to advance in the winner's bracket, the Musketeers fell 5-4 to UCSB. Xavier took a 7-5 win over Washington to advance to the Regional Championship Game for the first time in program history. The Gauchos advanced to the Super Regional with a 14-5 win.

THE LINEUP

Garrett Schultz has made every start at center field, batting lead-off for the Musketeers. Schultz has seven hits and six walks on the season, driving in a team-high nine RBI. He enters the UCSB series with a five-game hitting streak, having reached safely in all nine games so far this season.
Andrew Walker has made each start at left, batting second in the order. He has a .368 average at the plate (14-38), including five doubles, which leads the BIG EAST and is 14th most in NCAA DI, and has driven in seven RBI. He's recorded a hit in all nine games this season.
Shortstop Jack Housinger bats in the three-hole, with seven hits (7-35) and a team-high seven walks. Among his hits are three doubles and a home run. Housinger has five RBI and six runs scored on the season, and has reached safely in all nine games.
Grant Stephenson has made every start third, batting clean-up with a .325 average (13-40), and has driven in seven RBI. He's currently on a eight-game hitting streak.
First baseman Matt McCormick bats fifth in the line-up, currently batting .400 (14-35), including a team-high, and BIG EAST leading four home runs, which ranks for 22 most in the NCAA DI, with a .771 slugging percentage. He's reached safely in each of the last seven games.
Jared Cushing each game at second base, batting sixth. He has a .250 average at the plate, with a pair of home runs. Cushing has seven RBI and four runs scored to his credit.
Catcher Matthew DePrey bats seventh for the Musketeers, currently with an .314 average (11-35), with five of his 11 hits going for extra bases, including three home runs. He's scored a team-high nine runs and has five RBI.
Carter Hendrickson made every start in right field, batting ninth. He's batting .300 (9-30) including two doubles and a home run, hit in his first collegiate at-bat. He's reached safely in all nine games and has come around to score seven runs.
Hayden Christiansen has started the last five games at DH, posting a .579 average at the plate (11-19), including a double and a home run (.789 slugging percentage). He's scored seven runs and driven in four RBI.
Teddy Deters has also made a pair of starts, batting .333 (2-6) including his first collegiate home run, driving in an RBI and scoring a pair of runs in the series. Aedan Anderson and Alex Helmin each started a game at designated hitter.
Xavier has a BIG EAST-best .303 batting average, with the most hits (98) and runs (61) in the conference. The Musketeers also have a league-high 14 home runs so far this season

ON THE MOUND

Ethan Bosacker has made a pair of starts, posting a 1.50 ERA through 12.0 IP. Bosacker has a team-best .167 opposing batting average, allowing just a pair of earned runs on seven hits. He has 12 strikeouts to four walks, with a WHIP of 0.92. Bosacker is 1-0 on the season after he picked up the win on Friday against WCU.
Brant Alazaus has made a pair of starts, with a 12.00 ERA in 9.0 innings pitched. He's allowed 12 runs on 12 hits with nine strikeouts to one walk and is 1-1 on the season.
Nick Boyle has made a pair of starts, with a 4.76 ERA in 5.2 innings pitched, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts to seven walks.
Justin Loer has made four appearances, including one start, posting a 3.60 ERA through 10.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, with 10 Ks to three walks. He's 1-1 on the season.
Luke Hoskins has made four appearances, including a pair of start, and has a 4.50 ERA through 10.0 innings pitched. He's allowed five runs on 10 hits, with eight Ks and two walks.
Jonathan Kelly has a 7.71 ERA in 7.0 innings pitched, making a team-high five appearances out of the bullpen. Kelly has 10 strikeouts to just one walk.
Clay Schwaner has made four appearances out of the bullpen, with a 5.79 ERA through 4.2 innings pitched. He picked up the save against NKU after closing out the game with a scoreless 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit.
Connor Bailey has made three appearances out of the bullpen with a 3.38 ERA through 5.1 IP, allowing two earned runs on seven hits.
Luke Bell has made three appearances out of the pen with a 21.60 ERA in 5.0 innings pitched.
Nick Kolze made his first appearance as a Musketeer against NKU, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings, facing the minimum, without allowing a hit or a walk, and picking up a strikeout. Kolze picked up the win.
Creighton Hansen has a 0.00 ERA through 1.1 IP in two appearances. He's not allowed a hit, and has one strikeout to three walks.
Jake Zicka (1.0 IP) and Bryce Barnett (0.1 IP) both posted an ERA of 0.00 during the opening weekend.

WEEKLY AWARDS

After batting over .500 through a 3-1 week for the Musketeers, first baseman Matt McCormick was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
McCormick went 10-18 (.556) at the plate through four games, including knocking in four home runs, finishing the week with a 1.222 slugging percentage. Through the midweek game at Louisville and the three-game series at Western Carolina, McCormick had six RBI and seven runs scored.
During Xavier's mid-week game at top-25 Louisville, McCormick went 3-5 at the plate, including a pair of home runs, driving in three RBI.
McCormick, originally from Chicago, posted his second two-home run game of the week in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Western Carolina, going 3-4 at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored as Xavier took the 15-3 win to open the day.
McCormick followed that up with a 4-5 performance at the plate in the second game of the doubleheader, driving in an RBI and scoring a run in Xavier's comeback 16-12 win to sweep the series with the Catamounts.

VS. CANCER PLEDGE IT CAMPAIGN

Xavier Baseball is once again joining forces with Vs. Cancer to raise money in support of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, taking part in a "Pledge It" campaign though seven games during the 2023 season.
Donors can pledge a donation per hit or per strikeout the team collects during the series against Butler (April 6-8), Xavier's weekday game as part of the Joe Nuxhall Classic set for April 11, and the series against UConn (April 14-16). Those interested can visit GoXavier.com/PledgeIt.
The team will conclude the campaign with a head-shaving event after the game on April 16, to show support of kids across the country battling cancer.
Fans wishing to support the fundraising efforts can make a donation per hit or per strikeout, pledging that amount for the team's total of either hits or strikeouts through those eight games. Sponsors can also choose to make outright gift of any amount. The Musketeers last took part in a "Pledge It" campaign to support Vs. Cancer in 2021, raising over $22,000.
Xavier Baseball has worked with Vs. Cancer since 2014 to help support children battling cancer, raising over $60,000 for the cause in that time.
Those funds were, in part, used to help the Vs. Cancer organization make a $100,000 gift to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. With the donation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital was assisted in being able to establish its Proton Therapy Center, one of only two such centers in the world owned by a children's hospital.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Xavier continues its trip to California on Tuesday, March 7, taking on Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., set for a 9:00 PM ET start.
The Mustangs are currently 2-4 and will face Oregon State for a four-game series this weekend.
Cal Poly went 37-21 overall last season, with a 22-8 record in the Big West.
This will be the first match-up between the two programs.
Xavier will wrap up the trip to California with a four-game series at St. Mary's, running March 9-11.

XAVIER BULLPEN - 2022

The Musketeers return a strong core from last season's bullpen which posted a new school record of 482 strikeouts.
RHP Ethan Bosacker made the start in the season opener last Friday, returning to the rotation after sitting out last season due to injury. Prior to Friday, Bosacker was last in action in 2021, making 12 appearance, including 10 starts, with an ERA of 3.34 through 62.0 innings pitched and 53 strikeouts.
Lefty Brant Alazaus started game one of the Saturday doubleheader, his first appearance for the Musketeers after transferring from Walsh University. Alazaus started in 12 games last season at Walsh, pitching a total of 78.1 innings in 15 appearances. He finished had 2.88 ERA, had 100 strikeouts and only seven walks, and finished with a 6-1 record.
Justin Loer (LHP) made start in game two of Saturday's doubleheader. Last season he made 15 appearances, including three starts, finishing with an ERA of 3.55 through 25.1 innings pitched and a record of 2-0, with 18 strikeouts.
RHP Nick Boyle made the start for the Musketeers in the series finale on Sunday, his first career appearance for Xavier.
Among the returners, Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Luke Bell's 59 strikeouts from last season leads the way. Bell made 25 appearances for the Musketeers, including a team-high 10 starts, posting a 4-0 record. He had a 4.31 ERA through 56.1 innings pitched.
Bryce Barnett (40), Jared Gadd (38) and Jonathan Kelly (32), key contributors to last season's strikeout record, also return for Xavier.
Xavier also returns contributors from last season Conner Bailey and Luke Hoskins, as well as letterwinners Ryan Rumsey and Jake Zicka.
Off the transfer portal, Xavier added righties Clay Schwaner (Wofford), Creighton Hansen (Wichita State) and Nathan Stahl (Indiana).
The Musketeers also added freshmen Nick Kolze (RHP) Jack Niedringhaus (LHP) to the bullpen.

THE MUSKETEERS - 2022

The Musketeers bring back seven every-day position players and eight contributors from last season's school-record breaking offensive lineup. Xavier is coming off a season where they drove in a school record 425 RBI, scored a program-best 450 runs, and had 100 home run season, crushing the previous school record of 68.
Among the returners, Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year and the league's Preseason All-BIG EAST selection at shortstop, Jack Housinger, led the way with 16 home runs last season. The mark tied the previous school record and trails only Luke Franzoni's 29 home run season in 2022 in Xavier's single season records. last season, Housinger started at shortstop in all 60 games, batting .311 for the season, with 30 of his 71 hits going for extra bases for a .588 slugging percentage.
Garrett Schultz joined Housinger on the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad. Last season he played in 58 games, starting in 56, primarily in center field, batting .322, with 66 hits, including 14 for extra bases, and took 23 walks. Schultz drove in 33 RBI and came around to score 28 times.
Andrew Walker played in 57 games in 2022, starting in 56, all in left field. Walker batted .309 for the season, with hits 23 going for extra bases for a .505 slugging percentage. Among the extra base hits, he had 15 doubles and five home runs. He took 35 bases on balls, and finished with a career-best .437 on-base percentage.
Tyler DeMartino appeared in 57 games last season, making 55 starts, including 44 at center field and 11 at DH. DeMartino batted .309 for the season, driving in 47 RBI and scoring 40 runs on 63 hits. He had a .564 slugging percentage, collecting 27 hits for extra bases, including 14 doubles and 12 home runs.
Jared Cushing appeared in 58 games, starting in 54, making 34 starts at third base and 20 starts at second base. He Batted .290 for the season knocking in 31 RBI and scoring 33 runs on 60 hits. Of those hits, 20 went for extra bases including 10 home runs.
Matthew DePrey appeared in 42 games, starting in 26 last season, making 20 starts at catcher and six at DH. DePrey batted .266 with 29 hits, scoring 20 runs and driving in 16 RBI.
Alex Helmin appeared in 39 games in 2022, making 16 starts, primarily in right and center field. He finished with a .253 average at the plate, with 19 hits, including three doubles, and seven walks.
Grant Stephenson appeared in 27 games last season, starting in 26, all at third base, batting .310 for the season, with 27 hits, driving in 19 RBI and coming around to score 14 runs.

FOR THE RECORD

After helping Xavier rewrite several records last season, BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year, shortstop Jack Housinger is positioned to make moves in the Xavier career records.
Housinger moved into Xavier's top five for career doubles, with 48 for his time as a Musketeer, fourth most in program history and just 14 shy of matching the school record of 62.
After setting the single season school record of 68 runs scored last season, Housinger now has a career total of 147, ninth most in program history, with the current school record standing at 211.
He also had 47 walks on the season for 2022, the sixth most in a single season in program history, with his current total standing at 139, third most career walks for a Musketeer. The current school record is 188.

ROAD WARRIORS

Xavier opens the season on the road, playing 18 away games before opening the home portion of the schedule on Wednesday, March 15 against Michigan.
Overall, Xavier will play 36 games on the road, facing opponents from 12 different conferences, including the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC.
Among Xavier's 24 scheduled opponents are six teams that competed in last season's NCAA Tournament.

BIG (EAST) SUCCESS

The Musketeers have made the four-team BIG EAST Tournaments six times since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season.
Xavier has advanced to the conference championship series in each of its six trips to the league tournament, claiming the tournament championship three times (2014, 2016, 2017), as well as winning the regular season title in 2016.
The Musketeers have advanced to the championship series and finished runners-up in each of the last three tournaments held (2019, 2021, 2022).

X IN THE PROS

A pair of Musketeers were selected in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft, with junior Jack Lynch going to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 18th round, and senior Luke Franzoni selected in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Angels.
The two selections in 2022 makes it 20 total Musketeers selected in the MLB Draft since 2005.
At least one Xavier player has been selected in seven of the last nine years, and the 2022 draft marked the fourth time in that period that multiple Musketeers were picked.

PRESEASON PICKS

Ahead of the 2023 season, Xavier was picked the finish third in BIG EAST by the league coaches.
Graduate student Jack Housinger was named the Preseason Player of the Year, and was the coaches' preseason All-League pick at shortstop.
Senior outfielder Garrett Schultz and Senior RHP Luke Bell were also selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

2023 Preseason Baseball All-BIG EAST Team and Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Jack Housinger, Gr., SS, Xavier

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Ian Cooke, So., RHP, UConn

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team*
C – Owen Carapellotti, So.., Georgetown
1B – Ben Huber, Gr., UConn
2B – Andrew Meggs, Sr., Creighton
3B – Kevin Michaels, RJr., St. John's
SS – Jack Housinger, Gr., Xavier
DH – Jack Grace, Sr., Creighton
OF – Korey Morton, Jr., UConn
OF – David Glancy, RJr., St. John's
OF – Will Gale, RJr., Seton Hall
OF – Garrett Schultz, Sr., Xavier
SP – Ian Cooke, So., UConn ^
SP – Cade Lommel, Jr., Creighton
SP – Dominic Cancellieri, Jr., Creighton
SP – Luke Bell, Sr., Xavier
RP – Tommy Steier, Gr., Creighton

^ - denotes unanimous selection
* due to a tie in voting, there is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team.

Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. UConn (7) – 49
2. Creighton (1) – 43
3. Xavier – 36
4. Georgetown – 30
5. Seton Hall – 23
6. St. John's – 21
7. Villanova – 15
8. Butler – 7

XU TO HOST LEAGUE TOURNEY

The 2023 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 Tournament will open on Wednesday, May 24 and is scheduled to run through Saturday, May 27. The opening day of the tournament has been moved up a day from previous years.
The BIG EAST announced in 2019 that Prasco Park would extend the partnership, which began in 2018, with Xavier remaining the co-host of the annual postseason tournament.