The Saint Xavier Men’s Baseball team kicked off their home schedule this week and did very well in the process, winning four times and only losing once.
The Cougars started the week on March 18th, when they played Robert Morris University twice. Saint Xavier entered the games with an 11-8 record, while the Robert Morris Eagles entered with a 7-7 record.
In the first game, SXU completely dominated, eventually winning 3-0 after a strong pitching performance from starting pitcher Anthony Chimera.
Game two of the doubleheader was more competitive. Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the sixth inning, when SXU got on the board with a RBI single from catcher Zach Forney to put them up 1-0. The Eagles fired right back and tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning.
The Cougars responded almost immediately and re-took the lead in the top of the seventh with a RBI double from shortstop Garrett Bright to put SXU up 2-1. It wasn’t until the bottom of the eighth when Robert Morris responded with a RBI single to tie the game. Neither team could score in the ninth inning, forcing extra innings. Saint Xavier couldn’t score a run in the top of the tenth inning, but Robert Morris scored one in the bottom half, ending the game with a RBI single to put the Eagles up 3-2.
The Cougars came out of the doubleheader with a 12-9 record, while Robert Morris left with a 8-8 record. After a strong 14-2 victory over Indiana University-South Bend, the Saint Xavier Cougars played their first two home games of the season on March 23rd against Trinity International University. The Cougars entered the doubleheader with a 13-9 record, while Trinity entered with a 7-13 record.
Starting pitcher Tim Brokop pitched an amazing game, but even if he didn’t, it really would not have made a major difference, because the Cougars absolutely crushed the ball, scoring 17 runs in the first three innings. The Cougars scored three more runs, while only allowing one from Trinity International in the process. The game was called in the bottom of the seventh due to the mercy rule.
Later that day, SXU played Trinity International in the second game of the doubleheader. Trinity got off to an early 3-1 lead, taking that two run lead into the sixth inning. However, the Cougars absolutely went off in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven runs. Saint Xavier pitcher Isaiah Rivera shut the Trinity bats down for almost the entire second half of the game, while SXU helped his cause by scoring two more runs, pushing their lead to 10-3.
Trinity International had to score seven runs in the top of the ninth to potentially force extra innings, but they only scored two and lost the game in the process. Saint Xavier improved to 15-9 with the two victories, while Trinity International fell to 7-15 with the two losses.
The Cougars play five times next week, playing twice against Judson University and three times against Trinity Christian College.
Chris Leonchik
Sports Editor