Don’t look now, but the Saint Xavier Cougars are on a roll. Entering a double header on April 12 against Purdue University-North Central, the baseball team owned an overall record of 12-17, while sitting near the bottom of the CCAC North Division at 5-7.
However, as the weather got warmer, Saint Xavier’s bats started to heat up. The scorching hot Cougars put together a six game winning streak that included a noteworthy 8-6 come up from behind victory over Division-II opponent, Lewis University.
Then, after a series sweep against CCAC foe Roosevelt University, the Cougars clawed back to a .500 record and are currently gnawing at the heels of conference front runners St. Ambrose and Judson. One of the most satisfying aspects of the Cougars’ current win streak is their ability to win close games.
Half of their victories over the six game span were decided by one run. Among them included a come from behind effort against the top team in the CCAC South Division, Olivet Nazarene University.
On April 13, Saint Xavier pinch hitter, Mike Owens, bombed a fly ball off the right field wall to drive in the winning run in a thrilling 5-4 victory. It was a back-and-forth affair all the way through, as Olivet and Saint Xavier traded leads until the final frame.
It was also one of the gutsiest performances by a Saint Xavier pitcher all season. Tyler Hebel would not be denied a victory in his start, as he stifled a tough Olivet offense to four runs (two earned) on seven hits in a complete game effort.
Hebel pitched well enough to keep his team in the game, and in the bottom of the ninth, his offense rewarded his work with a walk-off win. Junior first baseman, Tom Hayes, managed a huge base-hit to center field in the seventh inning to drive in two runs that gave the Cougars a short-lived one run lead.
Olivet tied the game in the subsequent inning, but Junior Mike Owens drove in sophomore Drey Devereaux from second base in the bottom of the ninth to seal a victory. A challenge followed the Cougars the next day after their big win, as they took on Lewis University under the lights in Romeoville.
Saint Xavier proved they can play against any team by valiantly fighting back from a three run deficit late in the contest. Down 6-3 with three innings left to play, the Cougars mustered enough offense to cut the lead down to just one by the ninth inning. Tom Hayes and centerfielder Alex Neufeld each posted clutch RBI singles in the frame to put Saint Xavier ahead late.
The bright lights put a spark in the Cougars’ bats, as the team totaled 14 hits against seven different Lewis University pitchers. Saint Xavier went on to an 8-6 victory, and pitcher Anthony Chimera was awarded the win after throwing two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth.
Saint Xavier brought their momentum to Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood in a double header against CCAC rival Roosevelt University. In game one, more late inning heroics were needed to keep their current winning streak intact.
Freshman Brett Smith got the call, but suffered from command issues and received no help from his defense. In five innings Smith scattered five hits and gave up four unearned runs, while also walking six batters.
The Cougars jumped to an early 4-1 lead, but a tough bottom of the fifth allowed Roosevelt to tie it at four. Sophomore Erik Eggert was called on in relief and shut Roosevelt’s offense down over four innings.
Still tied at four in the top of the ninth, freshman shortstop Mark Martin led off with a single to center field and advanced to second base after a Steve Carrabotta sacrifice bunt. Martin would later score the go ahead run on an error, which proved to be the difference in the game. Saint Xavier earned another tight victory by a score of 5-4.
After handily defeating Roosevelt 5-0 in game two of the doubleheader, the series concluded at home on April 17. This, too, followed a similar narrative. The Cougars found themselves down 6-1 after the top of the fifth inning and needed to muster another comeback to maintain their winning streak.
Coming off his gutsy complete game performance, sophomore Tyler Hebel struggled in 3 2/3 innings of work. The righty gave up six runs (three earned) on seven hits and could not make it out of the fourth inning.
Freshman David Storm took over, and shut down Roosevelt to merely four hits in 5 1/3 innings. It was up to Saint Xavier’s offense to get Hebel off the hook. In the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars rallied for three runs and cut the deficit to two.
Garret Bright doubled drove in two on a double to right center and Erik Eggert followed it up with an RBI double of his own. In the sixth, Tom Hayes led off with a double, and eventually scored on an RBI single by Mark Martin to trim the Roosevelt lead to just one.
Then in the seventh, Saint Xavier refused to take their foot off the gas on offense. Sophomore Drey Devereaux tied the game on a fielder’s choice, which got Saint Xavier starter Tyler Hebel off the hook for a loss.
With the game tied at six in the bottom of the ninth, Devereaux started the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. With two outs and Devereaux still at first base, senior Steve Carrabotta came through with a clutch double to right center to give the Cougars a dramatic walk-off victory.
Saint Xavier looks to continue their hot streak against more CCAC opponents this week as they approach the home stretch of the 2016 regular season.
Mike Rankin
Sports Contributor
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