Courtesy of GoXavier.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Xavier baseball saw its remarkable run conclude on Monday afternoon, falling to UC Santa Barbara, 13-5, at Hawkins Field in the NCAA Tournament Nashville Regional championship game. The Musketeers finished the year winning 18 of their final 22 games – and eight of their last 10 – en route to a BIG EAST regular-season and tournament title, while advancing to the program’s third NCAA Tournament.
The No. 4 seed Musketeers (32-30) went 2-2 on the weekend, moving their all-time NCAA Tournament record to 4-6. Xavier advanced to the championship game of an NCAA Tournament Regional for the first time in school history with Monday’s appearance in the title game. The Musketeers were the final No. 4 seed remaining in NCAA Tournament action on Monday afternoon.
The Gauchos (40-18-1) scored nine runs in the fourth inning to go ahead, 7-2, before eventually adding seven more runs to seal the victory. USCB advances to the NCAA Super Regional next weekend to face Louisville with the winner advancing to the College World Series. The nine runs allowed in the fourth inning were the most surrendered in a single inning by the Musketeers this season.
Joe Gellenbeck, Andre Jernigan and Matt Fallon all tied the single-season school record for games played with their 62nd appearance on the diamond this season.
The 32 wins for the Musketeers ranks tied for second in single-season school history. Xavier has won 32 or more games in a season five times.
XU ON THE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
· Xavier had five players on the Nashville Regional All-Tournament Team: Daniel Rizzie (C), Chris Givin(2B), Rylan Bannon (3B), Matt Fallon (OF), David Morton (DH)
· Rizzie was named to a second NCAA Tournament Regional All-Tournament after also earning the honor at the 2014 Nashville Regional.
· The Musketeers had more players than any other team in the Nashville Regional on the all-tournament team. UCSB had four, while Washington and Vanderbilt each had one.
POSTSEASON HOT STREAKS
· Xavier’s three seniors combined to hit .395 (32-for-81) in seven postseason tournament games. The group added 20 runs, three homers and 19 RBI.
· Daniel Rizzie hit .483 (14-for-29) with eight runs and eight RBI. David Morton hit .462 (12-for-26) with seven runs, six RBI and a home run. Andre Jernigan hit two home runs and collected five RBI.
· As a team, the Musketeers hit .317 (80-for-252) during postseason action with eight home runs and 47 RBI.
XU AT THE PLATE
· UCSB had four more hits (15-11) than Xavier and committed two fewer errors (2-0). The Musketeers stranded four more base runners in the loss (12-8).
· With 11 hits today, Xavier recorded a double-digit hit total for the eighth time in nine games. The Musketeers also reached base in seven of nine innings on the day.
· Xavier scored two runs with two outs in the frame. All told, the Musketeers scored 11 of their 31 NCAA Tournament runs with two outs in the inning.
· Nate Soria was one of two players with multiple hits on the day, finishing 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and a run scored.
· David Morton added two hits and a run, capping a fantastic tournament. The senior utility man hit .500 (7-for-14, 5 R, HR, 4 RBI) over his four starts in the regional. He also worked five walks to post a ridiculous .632 on-base percentage.
· Daniel Rizzie went 1-for-2 with three walks, finishing the tournament at .400 (6-for-15, 4 R, 2 RBI). Rizzie also walked four times for an on-base percentage of .526.
· Rylan Bannon extended his season-best hitting streak to 14 games with a 1-for-4 day. The sophomore third baseman had an unbelievable run through the postseason, finishing the regional at .353 (6-for-17, 5 R, 2 HR, 8 RBI) with a .450 on-base percentage.
· In seven total postseason games, Bannon recorded a .313 batting average (10-for-32) and a .750 slugging percentage at the top of the order. His outburst included a team-high three homers, 11 RBI, five doubles and 24 total bases.
XU ON THE MOUND
· Starter Greg Jacknewitz (1-7) retired the first nine batters of the game before allowing six runs (two earned) in the fourth inning. The LHP added three strikeouts with two walks.
· Relievers Damien Richard (2.2 IP), Brad Kirschner (2.0 IP) and Sam Czabala (1.0 IP) finished the game for Xavier, combining to throw four strikeouts and surrendered eight runs.
HOW XU SCORED
FIRST INNING: Xavier scored two runs with two outs in the frame. A Nate Soria RBI infield single scored the first run before Andre Jernigan crossed home plate on the following at bat via a Chris Givin RBI single to right field.
FOURTH INNING: A Joe Gellenbeck sacrifice fly to left field scored David Morton for the lone run of the inning.
SEVENTH INNING: Nate Soria hit a two-run homer to left field, collecting his second hit of the afternoon.
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