Xavier Baseball 2024

[X-band '01]

2024 Baseball Schedule Released (https://goxavier.com/news/2023/12/5/xavier-baseball-announces-2024-schedule?utm_medium=email&elq_cid=92155&ehash=3eac32b4c4a376bf565b4686c0b8955fb604b01a295f 94456e82fe8773391721)

Notable road series this year: at Clemson, at Florida Gulf Coast, at Louisiana Tech, at LSU (the Justin Loer reunion) - teams in bold will be on Xavier's annual spring break trip

Single road games at Louisville and Tennessee

Home game against Oklahoma

Joe Nuxhall Classic will be played at Prasco Park this year; first game against UC will be April 2. Championship/consolation games will be April 9 against either Miami/Wright State

Big East Tournament will also be at Prasco Park on May 22-25

[GoMuskies]

15 days until opening day....

[X-band '01]

Got a magnet schedule in the mail yesterday for baseball and I haven't even officially renewed my season ticket yet.

It's going to be $53 for this season. The games at Prasco Park will still be freebies.

[GoMuskies]

The team could start out like 1-15 and I wouldn't be THAT surprised. And we could still be one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the Big East. The schedule to start is BRUTAL.

[X-band '01]

We'll have to see how the pitching rotation looks this year. Luke Hoskins is the only notable returner as far as starting pitching goes.

Then again, we had no idea we were sitting on a stud in Brent Alazaus at this time last year.

[GoMuskies]

It's baseball season mothafockers. 1-0 Xavier over Clem(p)son in the first.

[GoMuskies]

It was actually 2-0 after the top of the first, then Luke Hoskins got out to the dreaded single, single, single, grand slam start. Oops.

[X-band '01]

Looking ahead as Game 1 is starting to get away:

Nolan Hughes will be the SP on Saturday. He's a Fordham transfer who split time between the bullpen and their starting rotation last year. Considering he had an ERA north of 8, I'd expect an early hook tomorrow.

Nick Boyle will be the SP on Sunday. He had a few midweek starts for Xavier last season, but he was predominantly a relief pitcher. Only threw around 18 innings last season.

[GoMuskies]

What I'm hearing you say is that 1-15 is more possible than we might have otherwise thought.

[X-band '01]

Better start today, at least. Xavier managed to get out of a bases loaded jam with no outs (and 3 walks) with a strikeout and a double play. And that was after a potential double play was called off by a foul ball down the 3rd base line).

[bobbiemcgee]

It was 5-5 bottom 5 but they just scored 2

[X-band '01]

In a somewhat apples-to-apples comparison, UConn beat Louisville this weekend but lost to Indiana State. Both are eventual opponents for Xavier.

[X-band '01]

https://youtu.be/FXMcbhn6Np0?si=XPBXW9K8m26SyDRe&t=26

[GoMuskies]

Oh man Louisville folks will be melting down over that one.

[Xville]

Wanted to go to that one with it being 70 degrees and sunny out today but 3 o clock on a Wednesday only allows me to post not attend baseball games

[X-band '01]

Xavier beats Lipscomb 9-5 in the series opener in Nashville. Luke Hoskins actually pitched through the 6th and finally bought the bullpen a bit of a breather.

[GoMuskies]

Streak!!!!!!!

[X-band '01]

Lads are going to have a lot to do to stay streaking today. Dug themselves a 5-0 in the first inning after giving up 6 walks and a HBP to Lipscomb. Their only hit was a 2-run double.

[X-band '01]

Won 8-1 today to clinch the series against Lipscomb. Xavier will get a rare February home game (weather permitting) against UC at 2 PM at Hayden Field.

After the UC game, Xavier will have their annual Spring Break trip with a 3-game series at Florida Gulf Coast, a 2-game series at Louisiana Tech and a 3-game series at defending champion LSU. No sweat.

[GoMuskies]

We're a baseball school now.

[X-band '01]

Baseball and...maybe soccer?

[GoMuskies]

Beat UC 11-9. Rallied from 8-2 down to do it. Beating UC rules.

[GoMuskies]

Good start to the spring break trip. Won 10-6 at Florida Gulf Coast.

[GoMuskies]

Another win over FGCU. 9-5. Maybe we're pretty good?

[bobbiemcgee]

Lost in Ninth 5-4

[bobbiemcgee]

Looseyana Tech 5th and 6th , then 3 with the National Champs.

[X-band '01]

That was great winning a series down at FGCU -I think both the Eagles and Lipscomb were the top 2 teams in the A-Sun last year.

Defintely need to get at least one win against La Tech before taking on the coal walk at LSU.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier got the split with a 6-4 win over Louisiana Tech. Tech came into the game 12-0.

[X-band '01]

If you look at Warren Nolan's baseball rankings, Xavier has jumped 33 spots since Sunday's loss at FGCU. His website does realtime updates.

Getting even one win at LSU would be huge.

[GoMuskies]

Don't think I'd wager on X tonight. LSU's starter tonight Luke Holman has started three games. He's 3-0. His ERA is 0.00. He's pitched 18 innings and given up 8 hits and 2 walks. He's struck out 30.

Justin Loer would be our Friday starter. For LSU, he's a middling option in the middle of the bullpen.

If you DID want to bet on X, I see that they are surprisingly only +375 underdogs. I would have expected a substantially larger number.

[GoMuskies]

Game now at 8pm Central on SEC+.

[GoMuskies]

LSU is really good, and Xavier has played some really bad early defense, so maybe tomorrow for the X men. They're not touching that pitcher anyway.

Fairly certain Xavier's hitters have never seen a breaking ball in their lives.

[X-band '01]

Billy O'Conner getting the heave-ho after a hometown called strike 3. Was the second inning in a row where Xavier failed to capitalize with multiple runners on base.

[GoMuskies]

It was a check swing, but I think he went. There was a terrible called strike three on Cushing earlier in the game on a 3-2 pitch that would have loaded the bases with no outs.

Great pitching for Xavier tonight. 4-0, but it could easily be 0-0 if not for a couple of questionable plays in the outfield.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier scored today! But lost 8-2.

With pitching matchups, tomorrow was always basically the only chance for a win in the series.

[bobbiemcgee]

We beat the national champs 2-1

[GoMuskies]

One of three (with no major blowout losses) is a huge moral series victory.

[X-band '01]

Hard to believe, but Xavier is about to embark on three straight weekends at home for a change. They get a midweek game at Wright State and a pivotal home series against an Indiana State team that was a regional host last year.

Definitely happy with the way this spring break trip played out.

[GoMuskies]

Side note: in UC's first ever Big XII game, they got no hit at K-State.

[X-band '01]

Xavier lost their opener to the Trees yesterday 16-5 (and actually ended the game in the 8th). A halfway decent outing from Luke Hoskins through 6 innings, but the bullpen absolutely imploded in the final 2 innings yesterday.

I'll make my first trip to Hayden for this season to watch the second game for the weekend series.

[bobbiemcgee]

Trees win 10-7

[X-band '01]

The fifth inning was a killer. The pitching staff forgot how to throw strikes and ended up allowing 8 runs in the 5th. Xavier got 4 back in the bottom half of the inning, but took a tough called 3rd strike to end the inning with the bases loaded.

It's up to Nick Boyle to get a good start tomorrow to avoid being swept by said Trees.

[X-band '01]

Xavier salvaged the finale 4-2; Nick Boyle gets the win for the 2nd week in a row. Now the Musketeers has a midweek game at Tennessee and a home series against VCU next weekend.

[X-band '01]

This weekend is where Xavier really needs to start winning series and/or getting sweeps. VCU is 15-6 overall with an RPI of 95, so they haven't exactly been playing Murderer's Row. Still, they'll be one of the favorites in the A-10 this year.

I've also noticed that Tyler DeMartino and Garrett Schultz haven't played recently, so guessing they're battling injuries at the moment. Luke Hoskins and Nick Boyle have been solid Friday and Sunday starting pitchers, but the middle starter is still a bit of a question mark after Nolan Hughes got moved to the bullpen. Saturday will also have VCU starting a lefty, so we'll see how the LHP batting order fares this weekend.

[bobbiemcgee]

Home run derby so far (5) X leads 5-1 in 5th.

[X-band '01]

Now would be a good time to end said HR derby. VCU hit a 3-run homer in the 9th to get back within a run.

[X-band '01]

And Xavier wins the opener 7-6.

[X-band '01]

Xavier also wins Game 2 9-5 thanks to a grand slam from Matt McCormick in the 6th inning. Going for the sweep tomorrow with Nick Boyle starting and on a roll.

[X-band '01]

And sure enough, Boyle got chased in the 4th and VCU ends up salvaging today with a 10-5 win. Real momentum changer was in the bottom of the 4th when the game was tied 5-5 amd Xavier hit into a double play with the bases loaded and 1 out. They never seriously threatened after that inning.

Now they get a Tuesday game at home against Wright State (weather permitting) and their final noncon series at home against Bowling Green before Big East play begins after Easter.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier wins! 10-7 over Wright State.

[X-band '01]

I know we're looking ahead, but Creighton appears to be back with a venegance this year. They've won 2 of 3 at Stanford and have piled up quite the record so far (as has the Johnnies). UConn still has a decent RPI, but they look like teams of Xavier past where they play a difficult schedule and barely win any OOC games.

Even Georgetown is coming off of a weekend sweep at Ohio State.

[X-band '01]

Xavier wins a wild one 11-10 in the opener against Bowling Green. Jared Cushing hit a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs to walk off.

[X-band '01]

Another series clincher with a 10-3 win against BG. Xavier blew the game open with 5 runs in the 7th; the highlight was a 3-run HR from Jared Cushing. Musketeers will go for the sweep tomorrow at 1 PM (or earlier depending on tomorrow afternoon's forecast).

[GoMuskies]

X is #31 in the RPI. I still don't think an at-large bid to the tournament is really possible.

Xavier is also #1 in the Big East in Warren Nolan's ELO ratings. 48th in the nation.

[X-band '01]

UConn certainly doesn't have an at-large path the way they've been playing of late - if Xavier wins that series at UConn next weekend, there will be more pressure on the Huskies just getting into the Top 4 of the Big East. Villanova and Butler are the only teams in the league that are going to be pushovers.

[X-band '01]

Tomorrow's game against UC at Prasco Park has been postponed; tentative makeup date will be next Tuesday (April 9). Not sure if they'll have the 2nd game of the Joe Nuxhall Classic the following day, but Wright State and Miami both have openings for April 9 and 10 if need be.

[X-band '01]

Xavier wins their Big East opener 9-5 at UConn. Luke Hoskins only allowed a run in 8 innings, but took the bullpen forever to get the final out (UConn actually had the tying run on deck).

We'll see how Logan Schmidt does on the mound tomorrow in his debut against the Huskies.

[GoMuskies]

That's a big win. Get one more, and you consider the trip to New England a rousing success.

[X-band '01]

Didn't get the W today - Xavier's old nemesis Garrett Coe held Xavier to two runs in an 8-2 loss.

Starting pitcher for X TBD for tomorrow's early 11 AM start.

[bobbiemcgee]

Fall 5-2 to UC

[X-band '01]

Bats have disappeared for the past 3 games. Better find them when Creighton comes to town this weekend.

[bobbiemcgee]

Game1 weather delay in top of 7th. CU up 7-5. Will resume tmrw 1pm.

[bobbiemcgee]

Bats woke up with 9 runs in 7th. 15-9 final. 2nd game in progress

[X-band '01]

Giving up the 3-run HR in the completion of the first game was a killer. But at least they got a split and can win the series against Creighton tomorrow.

[X-band '01]

Xavier wins 7-3 and takes the series against Creighton. Broke the game open in the 8th inning with 5 runs that included back-to-back bases loaded walks after a 2-run single.

Creighton also had the dubious distinction of more hit batters (4) than hits (3) in the game. Didn't realize that one-time Musketeer Teddy Deters was a starter for Creighton now.

Now Xavier has a midweek game at UC followed by a weekend series at Seton Hall. Pirates are in a deep slump after losing 2 of 3 at Georgetown and getting swept at home (yes, at home) to a bad Villanova team.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier gets 2 of 3 from UC this year. The ghost of Googs continues to haunt UC.

[X-band '01]

Xavier also wins the opener at Seton Hall today 5-3. They blew a 3-0 lead in the 8th inning, but got a clutch 2-run double in the 9th from Jake Lambdin to retake the lead for good.

Jonathan Kelly also pitched 7 shutout innings before running into trouble in the 8th.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier wins! 19-18, 4-3.

[X-band '01]

We're also going to find out tonight how real Georgetown is this year. Off to an 8-1 start against the bottom of the league, but have an early lead at home in their opener against UConn.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier wins again! 6-5. SH left the bases loaded in the ninth. Sweep would be very nice.

[X-band '01]

Xavier came back from a 5-1 deficit with a 5-run 7th inning; now they go for the sweep tomorrow against the Pirates. Xavier now a game ahead of Creighton in the standings after the Bluejays stumbled at Villanova today (meaning the Musketeers are in the Top 4).

[X-band '01]

That was also the 2nd day in a row the Pirates left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th.

[bobbiemcgee]

Out hit 11 to 6 and 2 errors. Nice clutch win.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier's RPI is currently #24. Doesn't even seem real. I mean, that would suggest X is almost in the conversation to host...and they are not.

[X-band '01]

They're not going to be in any bracket projections until their overall record improves. Someone else also had Georgetown getting the autobid, but that's going to change after the Hoyas lost their first two games to UConn.

What's really crazy is that Creighton probably has the best metrics of anyone in the Big East and they're currently on pace to not even make the Big East tournament as of yesterday.

[GoMuskies]

Lost 10-1 today. Not ideal, but good to win the series.

[X-band '01]

Just about everything else broke right - Butler upset St. John's, Villanova beat Creighton again and UConn finished a sweep of St. John's.

Xavier faces the Johnnies next weekend; a series win there would put X ahead of the Johnnies in the conference standings (at least via head-to-head tiebreakers).

[X-band '01]

After a midweek split against Miami/NKU, Xavier opened up a critical series at home with a 4-3 win against St. John's. A solo HR from Aedan Anderson and a 3-run HR from Luke Hammond supplied the offense; Jonathan Kelly pitched 7 innings and Nolan Hughes got the 2-inning save.

Always a plus when Hughes can throw up to 97 MPH out of the bullpen.

[X-band '01]

Lost to the Johnnies 9-3 today; a bad 7th inning did the Musketeers in. A fielding error on a sac bunt and back-to-back wild pitches from Nick Boyle opened the door to 6 unearned runs in the inning.

Rubber game tomorrow at noon.

[X-band '01]

St. John's ended up winning 6-3 today; Xavier is firmly cemented in 4th place at this point in the conference. Creighton ended up only playing 2 games against Georgetown this weekend due to weather; both were losses so Xavier currently 1 1/2 games ahead of the Jays for the final spot in the BE Tournament.

Xavier's schedule does get easier next weekend with a 3-game set at Butler. Really gotta get a sweep against them since they're at the bottom of the league.

[X-band '01]

Xavier up 12-4 in the top of the 7th at Butler. Even the Butler announcers sound resigned to be calling yet another Xavier beatdown against the Bulldogs.

[GoMuskies]

Two more wins in Indy would be sweet.

[X-band '01]

With UConn hosting Seton Hall and Creighton going to St. John's, the top 4 spots could be all but locked up. Xavier has by far the easiest schedule left with Butler, Georgetown and Villanova still left.

Bluejays still have St. John's, UConn and Seton Hall left.

Seton Hall has UConn, St. John's and Creighton left.

Georgetown is idle this weekend and finishes with Xavier and St. John's.

[American X]

See you in a couple hours, taking the boys to the game at Butler.

[X-band '01]

Meant you got to see Hayden Christiansen hit a HR on May the 4th.

May the 4th be with you

[X-band '01]

7-3 win for Xavier in Game 2 of the series. Now 3 games up on Seton Hall for the fourth and final BE playoff spot after the Pirates got a walk-off win against UConn earlier today. Creighton also lost at St. John's on a walk-off hit by the Johnnies to fall into a 6th-place tie with Villanova.

Both Hall and Creighton playing doubleheaders today in advance of rain tomorrow. Xavier still scheduled for a 1 PM finale tomorrow at Butler.

[X-band '01]

Xavier beats Butler 12-7 for their 11th win in a row against the Bulldogs; X finally sweeps a weekend series. Musketeers now have a pair of weekday games at home against #8 UK on Tuesday and Miami on Wednesday.

X is now 4 games up on both Seton Hall and Villanova for the final BE spot (also 4.5 games up on Creighton); two more wins will effectively clinch said spot. More important will be what happens next weekend at Georgetown; it could be the difference between playing UConn in the opener or playing St. John's in the opener. Those two will likely be the top 2 seeds with UConn holding a tiebreaker should that be needed.

[X-band '01]

Also note on the Georgetown series - that series will be played at Maryland's campus stadium. Georgetown's regular stadium is undergoing renovations and hasn't been used this year.

[GoMuskies]

X checking in at #29 in the RPI this week. And a midweek game against #2 Kentucky this week. Beat Kentucky and Miami, sweep Georgetown and Nova, beat #18 Oklahoma at home next week, at-large hopes? Doubtful, but it's kind of fun to think about on May 6th.

[X-band '01]

They may not even get the games in with Kentucky and Miami this week; thunderstorms (some potentially severe) are in the forecast both days. They might try to move the game times up on both days, but they won't be made up if they get cancelled. Not enough time left on the calendar to try otherwise.

I think another potential question to ask would be if a 3-bid Big East is possible. UConn and St. John's both have potential at-large cases as well, but frankly Xavier needs the autobid. Overall record is too iffy (even with a strong RPI).

[GoMuskies]

Baseball America has Xavier in the "Work to Do" category...but they seem to think Xavier is going to make it as an at-large with a decent finish.

Xavier (25-22, 9-6; RPI: 29; SOS: 10): The Musketeers got a much-needed sweep of Butler over the weekend. The metrics are outstanding, the underlying results (5-11 in quad 1, 7-13 vs. quads 1 and 2) may make some uneasy, but they’re not unique among bubble teams (Virginia Tech is also 5-11 in quad 1, for instance). Xavier needs to watch its overall record, as having a winning overall record is a prerequisite toward a tournament bid and it doesn’t have an easy finish (at Georgetown, Villanova and midweeks against Kentucky, at Miami (Ohio), Oklahoma). But as long as the Musketeers qualify for the tournament and has this kind of RPI, they’re fine.

[X-band '01]

What do they say about Creighton? They're a slam-dunk when it comes to midweek games yet they have virtually no shot of making the Big East tournament field.

[GoMuskies]

Creighton (31-14, 4-10; RPI: RPI: 61; SOS: 139): I’m including Creighton here only because of its RPI and because it hasn’t yet been eliminated from Big East Tournament contention. But unless the Bluejays sweep UConn this weekend, it’s over. Which is too bad because they’re 27-4 in non-conference play with 3-0 record against Nebraska and two wins against Coastal Carolina. But they’ve also won just one conference series and that’s not good enough

[bobbiemcgee]

Looks like the game against the Red Hawks will proceed today.

[GoMuskies]

Got a good old fashioned pitchers' duel so far. 5-5 bottom of the second.

[bobbiemcgee]

9-7 X t7

[X-band '01]

I see Isaac Wachsmann is back as DH. He had been out of the lineup for a while.

A number of guys (Tyler DeMartino and Garrett Schultz) have been injured and haven't played since March. Not sure if they're coming back or not.

[X-band '01]

Really wild 9th inning. Miami hit a 3-run HR to take an 11-9 lead going into the bottom of the 9th, but Xavier answered with a 2-run HR from Wachsmann to tie the game and Jared Cushing hits a walk-off HR to make the final score 12-11.

Nice to get the bats going again with a 3-game series at Georgetown looming.

[bobbiemcgee]

When I saw the weather report, I knew balls would be flying. Nice win.

[GoMuskies]

The guy doing the Bubble Watch for BA isn't talking to the guy doing the actual bracket projection. They have Xavier as the first team out in their bracket projection. Maybe a sweep of Georgetown this weekend would change their minds?

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-ncaa-baseball-tournament-bracket-projected-field-of-64-may-8/

[XUMIOH12]

The guy doing the Bubble Watch for BA isn't talking to the guy doing the actual bracket projection. They have Xavier as the first team out in their bracket projection. Maybe a sweep of Georgetown this weekend would change their minds?

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-ncaa-baseball-tournament-bracket-projected-field-of-64-may-8/

Feel like they need to sweep nova if they don't win at least 2 against gtown/ok. Maybe need to sweep them regardless.

[X-band '01]

Georgetown has played very well against the bottom of the Big East so far, but they melted like hot butter when they ran into UConn. They're going to finish their season against X and St. John's, so we'll see just how "for real" the Hoyas are. Xavier lost 2 of 3 to the Hoyas at home last year, but two years ago (with a less talented team) they did win 2 of 3 in DC.

I think winning 2 of 3 against the Hoyas would be acceptable, but they would need a win against Oklahoma if that's the case as far as at-large hopes go.

[XUMIOH12]

For at large, feel like the SOS is there, the conference record/results should be there, but they just need to rack up as many total W's as they can to make the record "look" better.

[X-band '01]

On a side note, Georgetown's YouTube page will be streaming all 3 games this weekend:

Game 1 - Friday. 6 PM (https://youtube.com/live/E0bdRaOn1J8?feature=share)

[GoMuskies]

Nice rally. Need to add on.

[GoMuskies]

9-7 winner!

[bjf123]

On a side note, Georgetown's YouTube page will be streaming all 3 games this weekend:

Game 1 - Friday. 6 PM (https://youtube.com/live/E0bdRaOn1J8?feature=share)

Thanks for the link. I got on in time to watch the last inning of the win.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[bobbiemcgee]

Clutch pitching in 9th.

[X-band '01]

Even on a rainy night, balls were flying out of the park on both ends. Xavier now a half game behind Georgetown in the standings.

[GoMuskies]

X up to 25 in the RPI after last night. One spot ahead of Vandy if you can believe it.

[X-band '01]

Isaac Wachsmann hits a 2-run HR for the 2nd time this week in the 9th inning. Game now tied 5-5 in the bottom of the 9th with Georgetown due up.

Win here would officially lock Xavier into the Big East Tournament with both Seton Hall and Villanova winning their opening games of their respective doubleheaders earlier today.

[X-band '01]

And just as I posted that, Carter Hendrickson robbed Georgetown of a potential game-winning HR.

[X-band '01]

And the comeback completed in the 10th inning with a 6-5 win over Georgetown. Xavier could be tied for 2nd at the end of the day if Seton Hall beats St. John's again today.

[GoMuskies]

Huge win. At large hopes staying alive. Probably need to win 4 of last 5 to keep those hopes alive going into the Big East Tournament.

[X-band '01]

Seton Hall and Villanova both lost the 2nd game of their respective doubleheaders, so the Big East Tournament field is locked in with UConn, St. John's, Xavier and Georgetown. Xavier is currently 1 game back of St. John's for the #2 seed, but the Johnnies hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their series win 2 weeks ago. X also has a half-game lead on Georgetown for the #3 seed at the moment.

[GoMuskies]

Live RPI #23!

[GoMuskies]

Ugly start on the hill today for X. But we've been behind in every game so far, so hopefully we'll be okay.

Ooh, 10-3 now bottom 2nd. Going to be a bit more difficult today.

[X-band '01]

It started good with a 2-run HR from Isaac Wachsmann in the 1st inning; Xavier had a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 2nd before the wheels fell off for Luke Hoskins and subsequently Ashton Chronister.

If Xavier can get to Georgetown's bullpen, then there's a slight chance.

[X-band '01]

I should also add that the dimensions in Maryland's park are very similar to Hayden Field. No wonder the scores have been high this weekend.

[X-band '01]

Xavier now within 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th, but Georgetown's first baseman caught a liner that potentially saved 2 runs.

Now up to Nick Boyle in the bullpen to buy a couple of innings for Xavier to catch up.

[GoMuskies]

Didn't happen.

[bobbiemcgee]

17-8 g t6

[X-band '01]

If you look at the weekend series coming up, Georgetown going to St. John's will be the series that has the highest seeding applications. The only way Xavier finishes ahead of the Johnnies is if Georgetown sweeps the series (and Xavier sweeps Villanova), but that's a longshot considering St. John's only has 3 losses at home all year. Even then, Georgetown would be #2 and Xavier #3 by virtue of the Hoyas currently being a half game ahead of Xavier.

Would rather not have to deal with UConn in the tournament opener, but more likely X faces St. John's based on the way the weekend games potentially play out. UConn goes to Butler this weekend; it's also unlikely they fall out of the #1 seed unless they either get swept and St. John's wins 2 of 3 against Georgetown, or the Johnnies would need a sweep along with at least 2 Butler wins.

But first, Xavier gets a crack at Oklahoma on Tuesday afternoon. One final chance at beating a potential host school in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

[bobbiemcgee]

Oklahoma canceled due to rain.

[GoMuskies]

Bummer. Good RPI boost chance. If Xaxvier sweeps Nova this weekend and gets to the Big East title game, I guess there's actually a decent shot at an at-large bid.

But just go ahead and win the Big East championship, please.

[X-band '01]

Xavier's SOS is insane even without Kentucky and Oklahoma on the schedule. With Villanova coming off of a losing series against a shitty Butler team, I wouldn't expect them to put up much of a fight this weekend.

EDIT: Also see that Isaac Wachsmann was named Player of the Week in the Big East. Having him as the likely DH for the upcoming Big East Tournament gives the lineup a much-needed jolt. Xavier's lineup overall is great at hitting for power but not so much for average and getting on base.

Hopefully the pitching staff doesn't get too rusty in anticipation of next week.

[X-band '01]

Across town, UConn and UC tried to get a game in today but they couldn't get through 5 innings which was needed for the game to be official.

UC got hosed since they had the bases loaded with nobody out in the 5th and were poised to take a lead after being down 1-0. Huge break for X in that the Bearcats are also in contention for an at-large bid.

[GoMuskies]

Baseball America says Xavier MAY get away with winning 2 of 3 this weekend, but they really need to sweep to feel good about things.

[XUMIOH12]

Have to sweep in my opinion. Some St John's Ls would help too

[GoMuskies]

Baseball America currently has us solidly in. We're not one of the last four in. Nor is UC one of the last four.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-ncaa-baseball-tournament-bracket-projected-field-of-64-may-15/

[X-band '01]

Both Baseball America and D1Baseball have Xavier in the field as a 3-seed; only difference being that BA has them in Corvallis and D1 has them in Knoxville.

D1Baseball Bracket Projection - May 15 (https://d1baseball.com/postseason/2024-d1baseball-field-of-64-projections-may-15/)

Xavier clearly benefitted from winning 2 of 3 at Georgetown; St. John's was penalized for the 1 Seton Hall loss that they're on the outside looking in for now.

[GoMuskies]

HUGE season ending series vs. Villanova just underway. Xavier with a chance to earn its first every at-large bid to the NCAA baseball tournament.

Down 2-0 top 3 after a Villanova HR. Not a particularly inspiring start.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier trails 3-1 and is currently being outhit 9-1...by Villanova. Only run for X so far came when they loaded the bases with no one out via HBP, walk and single then hit into a double play.

[GoMuskies]

The rally Muskies are back in it. Down 6-5 in the 8th.

Xavier reliever Alex Vera has saved the day after starter Jonathan Kelly sold the bag. Vera has faced 15 Wildcats and recorded 15 outs after Kelly gave up 11 hits in 3+ innings.

Tough loss. Villanova is TERRIBLE.

[X-band '01]

That is, clinically speaking, a bedwetting.

[XUMIOH12]

BAD loss. Really need the next 2

[GoMuskies]

X trails Villanova 2-0 in the second. Hopefully they wake up soon.

[GoMuskies]

Well....hopefully X can win the Big East tournament.

[X-band '01]

We already know they're facing UConn on Wednesday at 6:30 PM, so there's that. Not even going to bother going to tomorrow's game now that it's completely worthless.

[bobbiemcgee]

7-3X in 4th

[X-band '01]

Xavier up 15-3 in the bottom of the 6th. Not sure why the mercy rule isn't in effect, but good to at least see both the bats and the pitchers having a good outing.

EDIT: Mercy rule applies once a team leads through 7 innings (or middle of the 7th with X leading).

[GoMuskies]

Well, maybe if we get to the finals and lose the winner take all championship game? Just such a wasted opportunity.

[X-band '01]

UConn is all but certain to start Xavier killer Garrett Coe in the tournament opener. Gonna be a tall hill to climb, but not impossible. Coe himself was pretty shaky against Butler a couple days ago.

Then again, Xavier's rotation is a lot less stable that what it was going into the postseason last year. Alex Vera might even sneak into the rotation at some point as a starter; being a LHP does give X that option if need be.

[bobbiemcgee]

Yeah, he gave up 7.

[X-band '01]

2B Jared Cushing was named to the 1st-Team All-Big East; DH Connor Misch was named 2nd-Team All-Big East. That's it.

Big East Tournament starts today at 2:30 PM between St. John's and Georgetown with UConn/Xavier scheduled to start at 6:30 PM. Schedule is very much in the air with showers and thunderstorms in the forecast every day between now and Sunday.

[GoMuskies]

Raining?

[paulxu]

2-2, top of the 6th.

[GoMuskies]

Getting late. Perhaps they should consider...doing this tomorrow.

[X-band '01]

They had the tarp pulled off after 9 PM, but there must have been another lightning strike since they put the tarp back on around 10 PM. I left at that point.

Had a feeling Alex Vera might start tonight; he did excellent save for one 2-run HR by UConn. Couldn't ask much more out of him. I have a hunch they'll go to Jonathan Kelly regardless of whether they resume tonight or tomorrow (probably around noon).

[X-band '01]

UPDATE: Game against UConn will resume at 1 PM tomorrow.

Georgetown will play the loser at 3:30 PM tomorrow (approx)

St. John's will play the winner at 7:30 PM tomorrow (approx)

Still a chance of rain tomorrow, but not as probable as today.

[GoMuskies]

Baseball America still lists Xavier as a last 4 in. They'd better go 2-2 or 3-2 this week if they want any chance at an at-large.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-ncaa-baseball-tournament-bracket-projected-field-of-64-conference-tournament-week/

[GoMuskies]

Still 2-2 going to the ninth. Let's go X!

[GoMuskies]

Escaped the bottom of the 9th after a leadoff UConn triple. All the momentum on Xavier's side as we go to extras. 2-2

On to the 11th, 2-2. Leadoff walk for UConn bottom 10 but nothing else.

Loser of this one is going to have a tough time coming right back and playing Georgetown in an elimination game.

[muskiefan82]

Boom! Huge win. 3-2 in 11.

[noteggs]

Cushing’s solo in the 11th looked like a no doubter!

[GoMuskies]

Beat St. John's and we're in great shape.

[GoMuskies]

X up 4 spots today to #34 in the RPI.

[GoMuskies]

UConn trails Georgetown 7-3 in the 6th. A Georgetown win there would be very nice indeed.

Huh, D1 Baseball had the score wrong. Actually 7-7 in the 6th.

[muskiefan82]

Georgetown wins 10-9 in extras. Crazy day for UConn

[STL_XUfan]

Game is being streamed for free on the flo sports YouTube page. https://www.youtube.com/live/cbUFOEXmfgU?si=XPifsDZ7WzEVoS94

[muskiefan82]

Not going well against st. Johns

[GoMuskies]

Only 5-3 and very early.

[GoMuskies]

I some of you guys like him, but John Fanta is obnoxious.

[GoMuskies]

Two RBI bunt is unusual.

[paulxu]

Up 2. Need to hold on.

[STL_XUfan]

I some of you guys like him, but John Fanta is obnoxious.
I will deal with your fascist adjacent takes on the politics thread, but this is a step too far. Fanta is a Big East asset that must be protected

[bobbiemcgee]

2runs on a bunt........sweet

[GoMuskies]

Stealing home isn't working for us today.

[GoMuskies]

If Xavier can get 9 more outs and give up no more runs, we just might be in no matter what happens Saturday.

[GoMuskies]

Bringing in Kelly seems to have been a mistake.

[X-band '01]

I'm not going to fault O'Conner for bringing in Kelly in that situation; he couldn't really go to Vera either (although he did warm up in the pen a few times) nor Nolan Hughes after their usage in the first game.

Xavier dug themselves a big hole with 3 unearned runs in the 1st; the Johnnies are too good offensively to give them extra outs like that. I think they'll be fine against Georgetown (their bullpen is just as ineffective, if not more), but trying to get two wins against St. John's would be a really tall order.

[X-band '01]

Two RBI bunt is unusual.


2runs on a bunt........sweet

What was even more unusual was it was preceded by three straight hit batters by St. John's.

[Masterofreality]

What’s our RPI now?

[GoMuskies]

What’s our RPI now?

38. A win over Georgetown is a must. Winning the first and losing the second against St. John's? Maybe? Would be close.

[Masterofreality]

I will deal with your fascist adjacent takes on the politics thread, but this is a step too far. Fanta is a Big East asset that must be protected

St. Louis is a mess of a city that has been controlled by Democrats for decades and the decline is precipitous.
Yet you, and/or the people there, obviously still vote for garbage Democrat “leadership”.
And you are pointing fingers at fantasy fascists that don’t exist.
Take your trash to the politics thread.

And leave Sir John Fanta alone.

[Masterofreality]

38. A win over Georgetown is a must. Winning the first and losing the second against St. John's? Maybe? Would be close.

Go X!!

[Xville]

St. Louis is a mess of a city that has been controlled by Democrats for decades and the decline is precipitous.
Yet you, and/or the people there, obviously still vote for garbage Democrat “leadership”.
And you are pointing fingers at fantasy fascists that don’t exist.
Take your trash to the politics thread.

And leave Sir John Fanta alone.

So beyond stupid. Take a look at cities that are absolutely thriving in today's climate. You will see that most of them take a bipartisan approach to their politics, and that both sides are represented well. See Nashville and Charleston for case studies.

[bleedXblue]

So beyond stupid. Take a look at cities that are absolutely thriving in today's climate. You will see that most of them take a bipartisan approach to their politics, and that both sides are represented well. See Nashville and Charleston for case studies.

Nashville is becoming a mess

[Xville]

Nashville is becoming a mess

Sorry for wuick derail. How so? It's certainly becoming overpopulated with woo woo girls and traffic is a nightmare, but the amount of infrastructure and commerce that is happening there is undeniable.


Anyways, hopefully the team can get passed G'town to secure what I'd assume would be an at large bid at that point.

[GoMuskies]

Guys, it was a joke. Please stop.

[SkyWalker]

At Prasco. Sparse crowd. Go X!

[bobbiemcgee]

3-3 7th

[SkyWalker]

Crowd grew big by 4:00. Tied at 6 in the 8th.

[GoMuskies]

That poor Kelly kid's arm is going to fall off.

[GoMuskies]

Good season. Needed more pitching.

[X-band '01]

A silver lining is that Xavier helped to ensure UC didn't make the field of 64.

[GoMuskies]

Hate to jinx it, but UConn is getting a bit murdery in the championship game of the Norman Regional. Up 7-0 on Oklahoma heading to the 9th.

[X-band '01]

That's their third trip to the Super Regional round under Jim Penders. The big surprise last weekend was Evansville getting a trip to the Supers as well. Too bad they're about to run into #1 Tennessee this weekend.

[bobbiemcgee]

Sorry to see Birmingham Southern go home from DIII ws School closed during their run.

[X-band '01]

Missed this last week - Nolan Hughes was drafted in the 16th round by the Washington Nationals. Didn't always have the best control out of the bullpen, but he had a pretty high velocity (mid to upper-90s MPH) on his fastball. Hope he's able to move up the chain quickly.

[bobbiemcgee]

Rylan Bannon is traded to Minnesota. Will play for AAA ST Paul Saints