SXU’s Evan Orzech celebrating SXU Athletics
The Saint Xavier University baseball team had their four-game series going up against Indiana University of South Bend. They won all four games during the weekend. All the games were held at home in Ferrell Field.
The first two games were played on Fri., Mar. 15 while the last two on Sat., Mar. 16.
Game 1
In the first game of action, SXU triumphed 7-3, with them having a strong start in the bottom of the first. Senior Catcher Evan Orzech singled to left field. Junior utility player Justin Massingle ran to third base, and Junior outfielder Sean Moore scored for the first runs of the encounter.
Freshman infielder John Simecek hit a grand slam in the bottom of the first. Junior outfielder Kevin Dowling, freshman Troy Stukenburg, and sophomore infielder Gannon Burns all scored to give them a huge advantage.
Simecek came up big again to score SXU’s last run at the bottom of the third and held on to the lead at the end to get the victory.
Simecek went 2-2 with two home runs and a walk and also had 5 RBI.
Game 2
In the second game of the series, Saint Xavier had a closer game, but they secured a 9-5 win.
In the bottom of the first, they scored their first two runs on a double to right center off the bat of Dowling. Massingale scored along with Stukenber to give them a 2-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the second, the Cougars rallied for four runs to extend their lead to 6-1.
Hutchings and Simecek both scored runs to make it eight points for the Cougars at the bottom of the third. The last run for Saint Xavier in this game was made at the bottom of the eighth and it was by Moore coming in on a Stukenber single.
Indiana tried to make a comeback but it was not enough at the end.
Game 3
Game three was a dominating offensive performance from the Cougars that ended up in their favor, 16-4
SXU took charge in the bottom of the second. Dreier hit a home run which led to junior infielder Mason Johnson and Hutchings getting SXU on the board early. From there, SXU’s game on offense carried them to a huge win.
Simecek went 2-4 with two RBIs, he also added two runs, a home run, and one steal. Stukenburg was 2-4 as well, with four RBIs and a double
Junior Logan McCleery tossed four innings with four hits and five strikeouts.
Senior Pitcher Doug Shermulis made his collegiate debut, he gave up one hit and one walk.
Game 4
SXU’s fourth game was where the offense truly exploded, they secured the sweep by winning 23-13.
The bottom of the third is where they took charge and ran away with the game.
Orzech had three runs with four hits in five at-bats.
Hutchings went 2-5, recording two runs and one walk.
Moore had four runs and he was 2-4 with two RBI. He also had two walks, a double, and two stolen bases.
After winning this series, SXU’s record is 10-11 overall, and 5-1 in conference. In the standings, they sit first and they hope to stay there as the season moves on as there is still a long way to go.
In their next series, they will see Saint Ambrose University of Iowa. Games 1 and 2 will be at Ferrell Field on Fri. Mar. 22 at 1:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. The third and fourth games will be on Sat. Mar. 23 in Davenport Iowa.
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