Baseball Travels to LA Tech for a Pair of Midweek Games

Tuesday, March 5

Ruston, La.

7:00 PM ET

Xavier University

Louisiana Tech

Baseball Travels to LA Tech for a Pair of Midweek Games

03.04.24 | Baseball

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Musketeers and Bulldogs are set to play Tuesday and Wednesday, with a 7 PM ET start both days

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

RUSTON, La. – Xavier baseball will start a five-game stretch in Louisiana against LA Tech, facing the Bulldogs for a pair of midweek games starting on Tuesday, March 5, at 7:00 p.m. ET start. Game two with Louisiana Tech is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6, with a 7:00 p.m. ET first pitch.

Xavier is 6-4 on the season after going 3-1 last week, taking a midweek game against Cincinnati, and winning a second-straight weekend series when the Musketeers took two of three at Florida Gulf Coast.

LA TECH NOTABLES

LA Tech, which is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll, enters the game unbeaten at 11-0 on the season. Among their wins are a four-game sweep of Northern Colorado and a three-game sweep of Kent State. The Bulldogs also have wins over McNeese State, Army, Creighton and Air Force.
The Bulldogs went 28-31 overall last season with a 15-15 record in Conference USA play.
La Tech picked up a win over Charlotte in the opening game of the CUSA Baseball Championship before falling to MTSU and Charlotte to wrap up the season.
This will be the first match-up between the two programs.

XAVIER STAFF

Luke Hoskins has made three Friday starts for the Musketeers, posting a 9.64 ERA through 14.0 innings of work with 12 strikeouts to just three walks. In his last outing, Hoskins went 6.0 innings, a season long, allowing three runs on four hits. He finished with a career-high nine strikeouts to three walks and picked up the win, moving to 2-1 on the season.
Nolan Hughes started in all three Saturday outings so far, with a 12.15 ERA through 6.2 innings pitched, with a team-high 14 strikeouts for the season. Against FGCU, Hughes had a season-high seven strikeouts, and allowing just one earned run on two hits, with five walks in 3.0 innings.
Sunday starter Nick Boyle has a 4.85 ERA through 13.0 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts. Boyle went 5.0 innings in the start at FGCU, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks, setting a new career-high with six strikeouts.
Jonathan Kelly has a 1.08 ERA through four appearances this season, and is currently sixth in Xavier's all-time records for career-appearances with 78. He's allowed just two runs, one earned, on six hits through 8.1 innings of work, with five strikeouts to two walks. In his last outing, he entered for the sixth inning in Sunday's game at FGCU, going 1.2 scoreless innings, not allowing a hit and finishing with one strikeout to one walk.
Through a team-high matching six appearances, Alex Vera has an ERA of 4.05, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits with six strikeouts to two walks in 6.2 innings of work. He entered for the final out of the seventh in Sunday's game against FGCU, going 1.1 innings, with one run allowed after the lead-off hitter hit a home run to tie the game. Vera finished with two strikeouts.
Jake Hooker has made a team-high matching six appearances out of the bullpen, with a 4.50 ERA through 6.0 innings pitched. He's allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and has seven strikeouts to four walks.
Tyler Sausville has made four appearances out of the bullpen, with a 5.68 ERA through 6.1 innings. He's allowed four earned runs on seven hits and has seven strikeouts to nine walks.
Connor Bailey has made five appearances on the season, including making the start at Louisville. He has 6.48 ERA in 8.1 innings, allowing nine runs, six earned, on 10 hits with six strikeouts to seven walks. Bailey entered for the seventh inning in the series opener at FGCU, going 1.3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned on three hits and a walk.
Logan Schmidt has made four appearances as a Musketeer, including the start against UC on 2/27, and has a 6.55 ERA through 11.0 innings of work, with eight runs allowed on 11 hits and six strikeouts to six walks. In game two at FGCU, he entered for the fourth inning, going 3.0 innings without allowing a run or a hit, striking out one and walking one. Schmidt was credited with the win, moving him to 2-0 on the season.
Eli Bridenthal has an 0.00 ERA through a pair of appearances, not allowing a run or a hit in 3.0 innings of work, with four strikeouts to just one walk.
Sophomore Jack Niedringhaus has made a pair of appearances, going 2.2 innings with 3.38 ERA, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts and no walks. He pitched the final 2.0 innings of Saturday's win at FGCU, allowing one run on two hits and finishing with two strikeouts and no walks.
Ashton Chronister has made three appearances for the Musketeers, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits. He has four strikeouts and no walks issued.
Terry Murray has made a pair of appearances, with eight earned runs allowed on seven hits with three strikeouts to four walks in 3.2 innings of work
Eric Podgorny made his collegiate debut in the season opener at Clemson, entering in the eighth inning, allowing two runs on one hit and a pair of walks in 0.1 inning.
Righty Jared Gadd returns for the Musketeers after sitting out last season due to injury. In his last season with the Musketeers (2022), he made 23 appearances, including two starts, finishing with a record of 5-4 with three saves. He posted an ERA of 4.20 with a WHIP of 1.38 through 49.1 innings pitched, finishing with 38 strikeouts on the season while only giving up 13 walks.
Last season, Nathan Stahl made five appearances in his first season with the Musketeers in 2023, posting a 9.00 ERA through 5.0 innings pitched. Stahl allowed four earned runs on four hits, finishing with four strikeouts and four walks.

THE LINEUP

Catcher Matthew DePrey has made all 11 starts behind the plate this season, batting in the lead-off spot in the last five games. He has a .238 average at the plate with 10 hits, has a team-high 11 runs scored and matches for team high with 10 walks.
Matt McCormick has started all 11 games for the Musketeers at first, hitting second in the line-up for the last five games. He's batting .310 on the season with a team-high matching 13 hits, including three home runs, and a team-high matching 10 walks. He leads the Musketeers with 12 runs batted in. McCormick has reached base in all 11 games this season, and enters the week with a team-best nine-game hitting streak.
Right fielder Tyler DeMartino has started in all nine games that he's played in this season, batting in the third spot in his last three appearances. He has a .407 average at the plate with three of this 11 hits going for extra bases. He's reached base in each of the nine games he's played in.
Hayden Christiansen has made nine starts for the Musketeers at designated hitter, batting in the third spot in the last two games, and batting in the cleanup spot the previous three games. He has a .333 average at the plate, with six of his 13 hits going for extra bases, including a team-high five doubles, and has 11 RBI to his credit. He's reached safely in each of the last nine games.
Aedan Anderson has played in all 11 games this season, starting in three, including starting in right field and batting cleanup in the last two games. He has a .368 average at the plate, with five of his seven hits going for extra bases, and has driven in 11 RBI.
Luke Hammond has made 10 starts at third base and is batting .250 for the season, driving in six RBI and scoring nine runs. Five of his 10 hits have gone for extra bases, including three home runs.
Carter Hendrickson has played in nine games, making eight starts in the outfield, with a .323 average at the plate, driving in four RBI and scoring 10 runs. Among his 10 hits are four doubles and a home run. He enters the week having reached base in each of the last eight games he played in.
Jared Cushing has made all 11 starts at second base, with 11 hits on the season, including two doubles and a home run, driving in nine RBI and scoring eight runs. He enters the game with LA Tech with a five-game hitting streak and has reached base in each of the last nine games.
Isaac Wachsmann has played in seven games, starting in six in left field, including the last five games. He's batting .478 for the season with a team-high four home runs among his 11 hits for a 1.000 slugging percentage. He's driven in seven RBI and scored six runs.
Center fielder Garrett Schultz has made seven starts with a .241 average at the plate. He has seven hits and four walks, driving in four RBI and scoring five runs.
Grant Stephenson has played in 10 games, starting in nine, including making the last eight starts at shortstop. He has six hits and four walks on the season, scoring five runs and driving in a pair of RBI.
Donavan Canterberry has played in seven games, starting in three at shortstop. He has a walk and a run scored on the season.
Connor Misch has played in five games, staring a pair at DH. For the season he has an RBI on a sac fly, a run scored and a pair of walks to his credit.

WEEKLY AWARDS

After batting .600 through four games to help the Musketeers to a 3-1 week, sophomore outfielder Isaac Wachsmann was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week, the league office announce on Monday.
Through a midweek win over Cincinnati and a 2-1 trip to Florida Gulf Coast, Wachsmann led the team with nine hits, including three home runs for a team-high 1.200 slugging percentage, drove in six RBI and scored five runs.
On Tuesday against Cincinnati, he had a three-hit day (3-of-4) including his second home run of the season, driving in three RBI, all in the sixth inning after collecting two hits in the frame. In the series opener at FGCU, he recorded a hit and a walk (1-3), scoring a run in Xavier's 10-6 win.
In Saturday's 9-5 win over the Eagles, he went 3-of-4 at the plate, including his third home run of the season, finishing with one RBI and two runs scored. On Sunday, Wachsmann finished 2-of-4 with two RBI, driven in on his second inning home run, his team-high fourth of the season.

RETURNING MUSKETEERS

The Musketeers, who received votes in the NCBWA Preseason Poll, return seven every-day players from the 2023 roster that won the program's fourth BIG EAST Championship and made the program's fifth NCAA appearance. The Musketeers took part in the 2023 Nashville Regional, advancing to the Regional Finals before wrapping up the season at 39-25, tying the school record for wins (Also set in 2009).
Matthew DePrey, the 2023 All-BIG EAST First Team selection at catcher, started all 64 games behind the plate for the Musketeers, tying the Xavier single-season record for appearances. He batted .278, primarily hitting No. 2 in the order, with 10 doubles and a team-high matching 14 home runs among his 73 hits, finishing the season with a .475 slugging percentage. DePrey, who drove in 42 RBI and scored 50 runs last season, was named to D1Baseball's Preseason Top 50 Catchers list.
Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Matt McCormick was a second-team all-conference pick last season after starting in 62 games, mostly at first base. McCormick batted primarily in the five-hole, finishing with a .309 average for the season. He had 12 doubles and team-high matching 14 home runs among his 69 hits for a .552 slugging percentage, best among Xavier's everyday players, driving in in 44 RBI and scoring 40 runs. He also had 32 walks on the season, leading Xavier's starters with a .421 on-base percentage. McCormick was named to D1Baseball's Preseason Top 50 list for first basemen.
Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Jared Cushing was the All-BIG EAST Second Team pick at second base in 2023, after starting in a school-record matching 64 games. He batted .284, finishing the season with 71 hits, including 10 doubles, a triple and a team-high matching 14 home runs for a .500 slugging percentage, driving in 50 RBI and scoring 43 runs. Cushing, who was named to D1Baseball's Preseason Top 50 list for second basemen, posted a .980 fielding percentage and helped the Musketeers turn 35 double plays.
The league's preseason pick at third base, Grant Stephenson, was a 2023 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection after batting .236 on the season, with a .313 average at the plate in BIG EAST play. He finished with 10 doubles and three home runs among his 48 hits, driving in 29 RBI and scoring 27 runs.
Outfielder Garrett Schultz, was a 2024 Preseason All-BIG EAST Selection after starting in 39 games at center field last season. Schultz, who dealt with a mid-season injury in 2023, batted .278 with 40 hits, including six doubles and three home runs. He drove in 23 RBI and scored 17 runs.
Carter Hendrickson played in 58 games last season, starting in 55, splitting time between right and center field. The junior batted .250 for the season, collecting 46 hits, including eight doubles, a triple and five home runs, and drove in 23 RBI and scored 39 runs. He finished with an on-base percentage of .398, taking 31 walks on the season. He was hit by pitches 15 times, second most in a single season in Xavier's records. During the BIG EAST Tournament, he batted .308 through four games, going 4-of-13 with two walks and scoring four runs to earn All-BIG EAST Tournament Team honors.
After dealing with an early-season injury, Tyler DeMartino started in 43 games for the Musketeers, including 41 at DH, batting .255 primarily in the cleanup spot. He finished the season with 40 hits, including five doubles, a triple and 10 home runs, driving in 32 RBI and scoring 28 runs. DeMartino was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team after batting .308 through the four games of the tournament, finishing 4-of-13 at the plate with three walks and three hit-by-pitches, driving in three RBI.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Following the trip to Ruston, Xavier wraps up its trip to the Southeast by heading to Baton Rouge to face defending National Champions LSU for a three-game series, running March 8-10.
The Musketeers return to Southwest Ohio following the series at LSU, traveling up the road to Dayton to face Wright State on Tuesday, March 12, set for a 3:00 p.m. start.
X returns home on Friday, March 15 ,to start a three-game series with Indiana State at Hayden Field.
Xavier is scheduled to face are nine programs that played in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, including four teams that advanced to a Super Regional and a pair of teams that competed in the College World Series.

BIG (EAST) SUCCESS

In 2023, Xavier finished second in the BIG EAST regular season and won the BIG EAST Tournament Championship to earn a bid to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2017. Xavier, the No. 2 seed in the league tournament, beat the No. 3 seed Seton Hall in the opening game and No. 1 seed UConn in the winner's bracket to advance to the Championships series. UConn took game one of the series, forcing a deciding game seven of the tournament, where the Musketeers posted a five-run ninth inning to come from behind and take the 7-3 win and clinch the title.
The 2023 championship was the program's fourth tournament title in the nine times the league has held the event since Xavier joined the conference for the 2013-14 season.
The Musketeers have made the four-team BIG EAST Tournaments seven times since joining the conference, including every season the event has been held since 2019.
Xavier has advanced to the conference championship series in each of its seven trips to the league tournament, claiming the tournament championship four times (2014, 2016, 2017, 2023) and finishing runners up three times (2019, 2021, 2022). Xavier also won the regular season title in 2016.

PRESEASON PICKS

Xavier, coming off the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament Championship, was picked to finish second in the league, earning a pair of first place votes in the coaches' poll.
Four Musketeers earned Preseason All-BIG EAST honors, as voted on by the league's coaches, including a trio of infielders, Matt McCormick, Jared Cushing and Grant Stephenson, as well as right-handed pitcher Luke Hoskins.

Preseason Player of the Year
Jake Studley, OF, UConn

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Stephen Quigley, SP, UConn

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team*
C – Owen Carapellotti, Georgetown
1B – Matt McCormick, Xavier ^
2B – Jared Cushing, Xavier
3B – Grant Stephenson, Xavier ^
SS – Max Viera, Seton Hall
DH – Jack Grace, Creighton
OF – Joey Urban, Butler
OF – Jake Studley, UConn ^
OF – Devin Hack, Seton Hall
SP – Garrett Coe, UConn
SP – Stephen Quigley, UConn ^
SP – Dominic Cancellieri, Creighton
SP – Cody Bowker, Georgetown
SP – Luke Hoskins, Xavier
RP – Ryan Reich, Seton Hall

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

BIG EAST Baseball Preseason Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. UConn (6) – 48
2. Xavier (2) – 44
3. Seton Hall – 35
4. Creighton – 29
4. Georgetown – 29
6. St. John's – 17
7. Butler – 14
8. Villanova – 8

XU TO HOST THE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

The 2024 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 four-team tournament opens on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 and is scheduled to run through Saturday, May 25, 2024.
The BIG EAST announced in 2023 that Prasco Park would extend the partnership, which began in 2018, with Xavier remaining the co-host of the annual postseason tournament through 2028.