Baseball Wins 2023 BIG EAST Championship

Saturday, May 27

Mason, Ohio / Prasco Park

5:30 PM

Xavier University

37-23

UConn

43-15

Xavier

UCONN

05.27.23 | Baseball

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Xavier earns program's fifth bid to NCAA Tournament

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

MASON, Ohio - After Connecticut forced a deciding game seven on Saturday afternoon, No. 2 seed Xavier took the rubber match with a comeback 7-3 win, securing the 2023 BIG EAST Championship on Saturday night at Prasco Park.

The title is Xavier's fourth BIG EAST Championship in program history (2014, 2016, 2017, 2023) and marks the fifth NCAA bid for the Musketeers (2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2023). Xavier moves to 37-23 on the season, adding to the second highest win total in program history.

Following the conclusion of the game, five Musketeers were named to the All-Tournament Team, Brant Alazaus, Tyler DeMartino, Carter Hendrickson, Jack Housinger and Andrew Walker.

Jack Housinger was also named the Jack Kaiser Award winner, given to the tournament's most outstanding player, after batting .667 for the tournament, highest all players. Housinger also led the way with 10 runs scored, and had five RBIs.

The Musketeers now await the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, set for Monday, May 29 at noon on ESPN2 and WatchESPN.

Xavier took the lead in the first inning, getting a run across after Matt McCormick hit a sac fly with the bases loaded and one out. The Musketeers took the 1-0 lead into the fourth inning, where the Huskies tied it up with a solo home run. The 1-1 tie held into the bottom of six, when the Huskies moved in front 2-1.

The Musketeers got the run back in the next frame, with singles from Carter Hendrickson and Grant Stephenson, and Jack Housinger getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Matthew DePrey singled to third base to drive in Hendrickson to tie it at 2-2. UConn retook the lead, 3-2, in the seventh and took that advantage into the ninth.

In the final inning, Xavier's first two batter got aboard, with Carter Hendrickson being hit by a pitch and Grant Stephenson taking a walk. Jack Housinger hit a triple to right center to drive both in and put Xavier in front for good. Xavier added three more runs, with RBIs from Matthew DePrey, Garrett Schultz and Jared Cushing to wrap up a five-run inning. Justin Loer pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the frame to secure the 7-3 win and the title.

ON THE MOUND

Brant Alazaus made the start, going 5.0 innings in his second start of the tournament. He allowed two earned runs on three hits, finishing with five strikeouts.
Jonathan Kelly entered with one on and no outs in the sixth, going 0.2 innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
Justin Loer entered for the final out of the sixth, going the final 3.1 innings, allowing just one earned run, giving up one hit, and finishing with three strikeouts to just one walk. Loer picked up the win to move to 6-3 on the season.

AT THE PLATE

Jack Housinger went 3-4 at the plate, driving in two RBIs in the ninth and scoring a run.
Matthew DePrey went 2-4, with two RBIs and a run scored.
Matt McCormick went 1-3 with a walk, driving in an RBI.
Jared Cushing and Garrett Schultz each drove in an RBI.
Carter Hendrickson went 1-3 with a walk, scoring a pair of runs.
Grant Stephenson finished with a run scored after going 1-3 with a walk.