Infielder graduate student Gabe Kirch SXU Athletics
Saint Xavier University’s (SXU) baseball team dominated their four-game series against Calumet College of St. Joseph, sweeping the Crimson Wave with decisive victories across both days of play. The Cougars kicked off the series on Friday, April 18, at the Richard R. Ferrell Memorial Field and wrapped it up on Saturday, April 19, with a pair of commanding wins to complete the 4-0 sweep.
Game 1: Saint Xavier 18, Calumet College 4 (W)
The Cougars set the tone in game one, earning an emphatic 18-4 victory. SXU got on the board early in the bottom of the first when sophomore infielder John Simecek hit a homer to left field, scoring after a Crimson Wave throwing error.
Graduate student infielder Gabe Kirch extended the lead in the third with a home run to right field, joined by senior outfielder Joseph Jimenez to make it 6-0.
The offensive onslaught continued in the sixth as SXU tallied four home runs. Junior infielder Beau Polickey scored from third, followed by junior infielder Drew Pinkston for the team’s 16th run. Simecek notched his second home run, and sophomore utility player Max Waszkiewicz added another score to stretch the lead to 18-2.
Despite a quiet seventh inning, SXU held firm and secured the win with a comfortable margin.
Game 2: Saint Xavier 21, Calumet College 1 (W)
SXU carried their momentum into game two, routing the Crimson Wave 21-1 in just seven innings. The Cougars jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first, powered by home runs from Simecek and senior utility player Justin Massingale.
Jimenez scored after sophomore infielder Noah Dreier doubled to left-center, advancing Kirch to third and setting up another run. Kirch and Dreier each scored soon after to close out an explosive opening inning.
SXU added five more runs in the third, with Kirch, senior outfielder Michael Flier, junior outfielder Shea Zbrozek, Simecek, and graduate student outfielder Travis Hammond all crossing home plate to push the lead to 12-1.
The final blow came in the seventh, as the Cougars put up another 7 runs to end the game via the mercy rule. It was a dominant performance from top to bottom.
Game 3: Saint Xavier 6, Calumet College 1 (W)
Returning to action on Saturday, SXU kept their foot on the gas with a 6-1 victory in game three.
Senior outfielder Sean Moore got things rolling in the first inning by stealing third and scoring after a Crimson Wave throwing error. Hammond added a second run in the third inning, followed by Kirch scoring in the fourth off a Dreier sacrifice fly.
In the sixth, Massingale scored after Kirch singled through the right side. Waszkiewicz and Flier tacked on two more runs following a clutch single up the middle by graduate student infielder Taylor Steig.
SXU’s defense kept Calumet quiet for most of the game, allowing just one run and securing their third straight win.
Game 4: Saint Xavier 11, Calumet College 1 (W)
The Cougars completed the sweep with an 11-1 win in game four, again holding their opponent to a single run for the third consecutive time. The game ended after eight innings due to the run rule.
Simecek continued his strong weekend by homering to left field in the third to open the scoring. In the fourth, Kirch, Jimenez, and Flier each scored to build a 4-1 advantage.
SXU stayed in control for the remainder of the game, scoring additional runs across the sixth and seventh innings. Zbrozek sealed the win in the eighth with a final run to close out the dominant series performance.
Series Recap & Looking Ahead
Across the four games, SXU outscored Calumet College by a staggering margin of 56-7. Stellar performances came from multiple players, including Simecek, Kirch, Massingale, and Jimenez, with significant contributions from both veteran leaders and underclassmen.
The Cougars now boast an overall record of 26-19, with a strong 19-9 record in conference play. Riding a wave of momentum, SXU looks to carry this form into their next series against Trinity Christian College.
The upcoming games will begin on Friday, April 25 at Richard R. Ferrell Memorial Field and continue Saturday, April 26 in Palos Heights, Illinois. Friday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., while Saturday’s games are set for 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
As the regular season nears its conclusion, the Cougars will aim to maintain their high level of play and continue climbing in the conference standings.