Senior OF/IF Shea Zbrozek
SXU Athletics
After a 1-5 start to the year, the Cougars baseball team have gone back to their winning ways by going on a six game win streak to get to above .500 for the first time since their 1-0 start.
It’s still very early in the season, but the Cougars have already been tested by having to overcome an underwhelming first couple of games.
The winning streak began when Saint Xavier University (SXU) took down Calvary University in a 9-5 win followed by a comeback against No.23 Columbia College (Mo.) to split the series at Battle in the Hills.
Down three heading into the bottom of the six, the Cougars took advantage of a couple of miscues from Columbia College to score four unanswered runs; this includes the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by redshirt freshman infielder Jackson Michko.
On Feb. 13, SXU went down to Alton, IL to begin a four game series against University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis. During the four game series, the Cougars offense ignited, scoring 40 runs and bringing their season run total to 74. Pitchers also held their ground, allowing just seven runs while striking out 27.
In Game 1, senior pitcher Trent Markezich was dialed in, going all seven innings, with four strikeouts, and allowing just two runs on four hits helping him secure his second win of the season.
Junior pitcher Cole Martz followed up that performance with a strong outing of his own, going six scoreless innings with four strikeouts. The bullpen closed out the game to record SXU’s first shutout of the season in a 8-0 win.
Games 3 and 4 were nothing short of amazing as the offense combined for 25 runs, including their first home run of the season by Jackson Michko in Game 3. This was followed by their second home run in Game 4 from senior outfielder Ryan O’Farrell.
The Cougars will take their 7-5 record and six game win streak to Marshall, MO as they face Missouri Valley College for three games beginning on Feb. 21.
As the season goes on there will be a lot of ups and downs, but the good teams are the ones who can overcome those setbacks. Through the first 12 games of the season, we have already learned a lot about this team: they are resilient, determined, and frankly, very exciting to watch.