Last season, the SXU Baseball team finished with a 25-29 record.
The Cougars played four times in the CCAC Tournament, going 2-2, but ultimately failing to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
The team was ranked in the top half of the CCAC in terms of hitting and pitching, with senior first baseman Jack Gainer leading the team on offense and senior starting pitcher Tyler Hebel and sophomore relief pitcher Jared Jones leading the team on the pitching front.
Over the offseason, both Gainer and Hebel graduated, allowing a new class of leaders to take their place.
The beginning of this new era happens on February 4th and 5th, when the Cougars kick off the year in Indianapolis, Indiana where they play Indiana Wesleyan University.
One week later, Saint Xavier travels to St. Louis, Missouri to play Clarke University and Missouri Baptist University twice each.
After a four game series in Sylvania, Ohio against Lourdes University, the Cougars travel to Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they will play Georgia Gwinnett College, the third best team in the country, according to the NAIA.
A few days later, the Cougars will participate in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven and Kissimmee, Florida.
After a short two game series against Robert Morris University, SXU will kick off their home schedule on February 16th when they play Roosevelt University twice at Ferrell Field.
Saint Xavier then goes on the road to play three road games in five days. The first game comes against Roosevelt University in Crestwood, Illinois on March 17th.
Two days later, the Cougars travel to South Bend, Indiana to play Indiana University-South Bend. SXU wraps up their mini road trip on March 22nd when they go to Deerfield, Illinois to play Trinity International University.
Saint Xavier wraps up March playing Clarke University, Judson University, and Trinity Christian College.
The Cougars kick off April by playing Saint Ambrose University at Ferrell Field.
SXU then goes on a four game road trip, first travelling to Hammond, Indiana to play Purdue University Northwest. Saint Xavier then travels to Lincoln, Illinois to play Lincoln College three times.
The Cougars then start a four game homestand when they play Indiana University-South Bend and Calumet College twice each.
After a short two game road trip against Calumet College and St. Francis (IL), SXU goes back to Ferrell Field to play three games against Robert Morris University and St. Francis (IL).
Saint Xavier then start a four game road trip that will take them far away from Ferrell Field. They start the road series in Dubuque, Iowa on April 22nd when they play Clarke University.
Two days later, the Cougars travel to Davenport, Iowa to play Saint Ambrose University twice. SXU finishes up with their final road game of the year in Bourbonnais, Illinois against Olivet Nazarene University.
Saint Xavier finishes the regular season with three home games from April 27th to April 30th against Olivet Nazarene University and Judson University.
The Cougars will then participate in the CCAC Tournament in Joliet, Illinois. If SXU wins the CCAC Tournament, they will participate in the NAIA Opening Round Tournament, which they have not done since 2016.
If the Cougars finish in first or second in the Opening Round Tournament, they will advance to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, which they have never done before.
The Cougars have the talent to make it far this year and if they rally around each other, they will be able to achieve success.
Chris Leonchik
Sports Editor
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