Xavier Baseball 2014

[paulxu]

Season's off to a great start with 3-0 road trip to my backyard. Played the games at Fluor Field in Greenville, which is a replica of Fenway Park, complete with Green Monster. (also looks like Camden with a large brick building behind the fence). Would have liked to have seen the games, but was out of town all weekend.

http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/021614aaa.html

On to Chapel Hill this weekend where I would love to see them take the series from the Heels.

[GoMuskies]

Great to hear they did so well in Greenville.

1 of 3 in the Chapel Thrill would be major success.

[GoMuskies]

X 2, Heels 1 in the opener. Best start for the baseball team since at LEAST 1985.

[paulxu]

Hot damn!

[Masterofreality]

X 2, Heels 1 in the opener. Best start for the baseball team since at LEAST 1985.

NICE. Undefeated season remains in effect.

[Lamont Sanford]

Way to go Googs! Let's go X Baseball!

[GoMuskies]

2-1 Heels today. X left runners at second and third in the ninth.

[paulxu]

Win the series tomorrow.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier lost a heartbreaker 3-2 to the Heels in the rubber match. UNC scored 3 in the bottom of the ninth to grab the win.

Despite the tough loss, this was a great showing. If X plays like that all year they should be the class of the Big East.

[paulxu]

Well crap.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier beat Dayton 16-1 in Clarksville, TN on Saturday. 16-1.

Big game in Bloomington on Wednesday, weather permitting.

[Porkopolis]

Xavier beat Dayton 16-1 in Clarksville, TN on Saturday. 16-1.

Big game in Bloomington on Wednesday, weather permitting.

It would be spectacular to take down both UNC and IU early on.

[GoMuskies]

Lost 2-1 to the Hoosiers today.

[Muskie]

Nice article about X in the Indianapolis Star. The team apparently built a snowman and put a jersey on him for the game (Link (http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/baseball/2014/03/05/xavier-builds-snowman-in-baseball-game-against-indiana/6098669/))

[GoMuskies]

College baseball is so stupid. I like it, but the whole idea of it outside of the deep south is just absurd.

[paulxu]

There's a lot of good things in the deep South.

[Muskie]

When X played down there, did they play at the Greenville Drive's stadium?

[paulxu]

Yes they did. That's one great little minor league ballpark.
There's a building that sort of reminds you of Camden Yards and people hang out up there watching the game, and a mini green monster to adjust for left field depth. Doesn't hurt they are a Boston Red Sox farm team.

http://www.autrojans.com/showimg.aspx?image=images//2012bbaction/FluorField.jpg&width=500

[throwbackmuskie]

Oregon and Oregon St have done very well recently. Withita use to be good as did St. John's. Kent always has a good team. There are some limitations in the north for baseball, but teams can succeed.

[GoMuskies]

It's not impossible to succeed as a northern school, but there's a reason the Sun Belt is a better baseball conference than the Big Ten.

Also, the successful bad climate teams often play on absurd fields where the only dirt is on the pitching mound. Both Louisville and Wichita State have that setup. It's the only way to play home baseball games in February.

[throwbackmuskie]

Northern schools just don't really care or put in the money into it. Hockey and wrestling is where thye put money outside the men's big 2. Field turf fields are becoming the norm in the the north, not a bad thing and will help grow the game.

[paulxu]

Meanwhile the Cocks roll along at 15-0 and #1 in the country.

[throwbackmuskie]

The D is straight up nasty this year, much improved. Crowe is a stud.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier is about to jump into a tie for first place in the Big East at 1-0. They trailed Georgetown 6-3 after 4 innings but now have a 15-6 lead on the Hoyas in the 9th.

The Hoyas are pretty terrible, so a road sweep to start the conference season is quite possible and would be very, very nice.

[bobbiemcgee]

The Hoyas are pretty terrible, so a road sweep to start the conference season is quite possible and would be very, very nice.

Just picked up 5 runs in the top of the 8th to break open the game 8-2. Looks like GU was throwing the ball all over the diamond. 2 scored on bunts:

http://www.guhoyas.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbasebl.html?event=1311823&school=gu&sport=mbasebl&camefrom=&startschool=&

[GoMuskies]

Xavier has never lost a Big East baseball game.

[GoMuskies]

Sweep. Still perfect all-time in Big East play.

[bobbiemcgee]

Northern schools just don't really care or put in the money into it. Hockey and wrestling is where thye put money outside the men's big 2. Field turf fields are becoming the norm in the the north, not a bad thing and will help grow the game.

https://twitter.com/josvicius/status/441300367372857344/photo/1

[GoMuskies]

Suck it Big East! Butler and Villanova are horrible, horrible teams, by the way, so this is kind of a disturbing week for the league, but a very positive week for Xavier.

Xavier 3-0 1.000 16-13-0 .552
Butler 2-1 .667 13-17-0 .433
Villanova 2-1 .667 10-18-0 .357
Seton Hall 1-2 .333 21-7-0 .750
St. John's 1-2 .333 17-13-0 .567
Creighton 0-0 .000 15-10-1 .596
Georgetown 0-3 .000 12-16-0 .429

Xavier hosts Villanova this weekend, by the way, so the Muskies have a great shot at getting out to a 6-0 start and getting some separation on the rest of the league.

[X-band '01]

Won't Creighton be the favorites in Big East play? I see they haven't had their opening series yet.

[GoMuskies]

Won't Creighton be the favorites in Big East play? I see they haven't had their opening series yet.

Heavy favorites. Xavier gets them at home, which is good. The seniors would probably prefer to play AT Creighton, though, since they'll now never get a chance to play there.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier with the big 10-9 win over Villanova to go to 4-0 in the Big East.

Interesting description of the weather in the boxscore: Weather: Mostly Weather, 68 degrees

[GoMuskies]

Xavier's game today is being streamed for free on the GoXavier.com website.

X leads 3-0 in the 7th. Villanova only has one hit in the first 6 innings.

http://www.goxavier.com/allaccess/?media=442558

[GoMuskies]

Creighton swept Georgetown this weekend to open Big East play, so Xavier needs to finish off Villanova today to remain one of two unbeaten in league play. X already leads 2-0 in the 3rd.

[flatspat]

thanks for the updates

[GoMuskies]

4-0 win to get the sweep. 6-0 in the Big East now.

Xavier goes to Butler next weekend, so Xavier plays the Big East's three worst teams in its first three series. Great shot to put together a gaudy records before taking their shots at Seton Hall, St. John's and Creighton, all of whom are a big step up from Georgetown, Villanova and Butler.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier lost 2-0 to UC today. Get this, though: the game was played AT UC. As in, ON UC'S CAMPUS! No word yet on the casualties from the brawl that obviously must have occurred.

[Masterofreality]

Xavier lost 2-0 to UC today. Get this, though: the game was played AT UC. As in, ON UC'S CAMPUS! No word yet on the casualties from the brawl that obviously must have occurred.

What? They didn't move the game to The Florence Freedom's Stadium?

[X-band '01]

Xavier lost 2-0 to UC today. Get this, though: the game was played AT UC. As in, ON UC'S CAMPUS! No word yet on the casualties from the brawl that obviously must have occurred.

It would have only happened at Hayden Field.

[blueblob06]

Maybe the basketball teams should be provided baseball bats for the Shootout to reduce the chance of violence.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier lost 8-0 to Butler yesterday. Need to win the last two from the Bulldogs, as this is the last shot X will have at a bad team in a Big East series. Seton Hall, St. John's and Creighton will all be very, very tough.

[GoMuskies]

Unfortunately Xavier saved up all their runs for the whole weekend to use today. 16-2 win today after 8-0 and 2-1 losses the first two games. 7-2 is still a good start, but it gets tough from here.

[bobbiemcgee]

Flagship!

http://www.d1baseball.com/conferences/standings_bigeast.htm

[GoMuskies]

Xavier beat UC 6-3 on Tuesday. No brawl.

[paulxu]

It was at home. Will next year's game be at the GAB?

[bobbiemcgee]

They're moving it inside to the Gardens.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier got swept by St. John's to fall into a tie for 3rd with Seton Hall. The Muskies have a 3 game lead on Butler for the final spot in the Big East Tournament, but Xavier has Creighton and Seton Hall still on the schedule, and Butler has the tiebreaker. Xavier is far from a lock to get to Coney Island.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier lost 16-0 at Seton Hall today. Not a good day for "Other Musketeer Sports".

[GoMuskies]

Swept in a doubleheader today. After starting 6-0, the Muskies are now 7-8, but because Butler is letting hapless Georgetown beat them around this weekend, they are still in pretty good shape to make the Big East Tournament as the #4 seed (only 4 teams will go).

At least one win over Creighton next week would be nice, though.

[GoMuskies]

So Xavier beat Bowling Green 7-0 today in an essentially meaningless game today. What I thought was interesting is that the teams combined to use 14 pitchers, and the game lasted 4 hours and 2 minutes (in front of a robust crowd of 198). That's brutal.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier 9, Creighton 4. With the win, Xavier' magic number to clinch a Big East Tournament bid is 1. Just need to split the final two with Creighton or have Villanova win one of the next two at home against Butler and X will go to Coney Island.

[xudash]

Excellent news for the other X b-ball team.

[Masterofreality]

X lost, but so did Butler, so Xavier winds up in 4th place and qualifies for the BE Tournament. Their final regular season record was 26-26 and 8-10 in the BE.

They now play top seeded Creighton in Brooklyn on Thursday at 4pm.

[XU '11]

X lost, but so did Butler, so Xavier winds up in 4th place and qualifies for the BE Tournament. Their final regular season record was 26-26 and 8-10 in the BE.

They now play top seeded Creighton in Brooklyn on Thursday at 4pm.

Interesting format if I'm reading the schedule correctly. Double elimination except for the finals. If the team that comes from the losers bracket beats the 2-0 team, they don't play another game. Does that seem right?

[GoMuskies]

I would assume they are doing that so that FS1 can televise the championship game. That way, FS1 only has to commit to a single game. Not exactly ideal. Frankly, if they were going to do it that way, it should probably just be single-elimination all the way through.

[BMoreX]

I would assume they are doing that so that FS1 can televise the championship game. That way, FS1 only has to commit to a single game. Not exactly ideal. Frankly, if they were going to do it that way, it should probably just be single-elimination all the way through.

This is correct.

[Muskie]

So do we have a good shot at this?

[GoMuskies]

So do we have a good shot at this?

No. Xavier is 1-8 against the teams in the field.

[paulxu]

So...you're telling me we've got a chance?

[throwbackmuskie]

Perfect Game has Creighton winning and going to play in the Vandy regional with Clemson and ASU. So if that were to happen Creighton could have a good chance. ASU is average this year, and Clemson and Vandy both choke in the post season.

Side note: from a baseball stand point STL would be a good addition in to BE

[GoMuskies]

The Big East is streaming the entire Big East Tournament other than the championship game (which will be on FS1) at their website. As MOR points out above, Xavier faces Creighton today. Here is the link http://www.bigeast.com/allaccess/?media=447234

[GoMuskies]

There are about 30 people at this game.

[GoMuskies]

3-0 Creighton in the 5th. Looks like X will need to win three straight starting tomorrow.

[bobbiemcgee]

4-2 baserunning error by X cost them a big inning.

[GoMuskies]

9-2 now

[GoMuskies]

Here's today's stream against St. John's: http://www.bigeast.com/allaccess/?media=447234

Xavier's pitcher struck out the side in the top of the 1st.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier got one in the first but left the bases loaded. That may turn out to be a costly missed opportunity.

[Masterofreality]

My Gawd these announcers are terrible. The play by play guy can't stop the "Eggs-zavier".

[Masterofreality]

Got one more 2 out run in the 2nd. 2-0 after 2. X

[GoMuskies]

I get a little nervous about the league every time I watch one of these events with 7 people in the stands. Granted, it IS a college baseball tournament.

[GoMuskies]

6-0 X b3. Looking good to play Creighton or the Hall tomorrow.

[paulxu]

I get a little nervous about the league every time I watch one of these events with 7 people in the stands. Granted, it IS a college baseball tournament.

You probably don't want to know that the Gamecock stadium holds 8,242 (6,600 seated) and that their average attendance for regular season games is 7,445.

ps. no major league sports franchises in the city. Well, except the football program.

[GoMuskies]

Yeah, well, Creighton's stadium holds 24,505. So there!

[GoMuskies]

My Gawd these announcers are terrible. The play by play guy can't stop the "Eggs-zavier".

I think he may be drunk. Given that you and I may be the only people watching, that's probably okay.

[GoMuskies]

Nice break for X with Creighton/HALL getting rained out tonight. The loser of their noon game will have to turn right around and play Xavier at 4:00 tomorrow.

Hopefully the Jays and Pirates play about 17 innings in the noon game.

[GoMuskies]

As you can see, the city of New York has truly embraced this event.

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/omaha.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/03/503e6168-e208-11e3-b090-001a4bcf6878/537e878046895.image.jpg

[X-band '01]

Yeah, well, Creighton's stadium holds 24,505. So there!

Isn't that where they're also playing the Big 10 Tournament this weekend?

[waggy]

Maybe they should consider moving it to Omaha. Seriously.

[GoMuskies]

Maybe they should consider moving it to Omaha. Seriously.

I think they will. As X-Band points out, the Big Ten has Omaha this year, but I would wager it will spend a lot of time in Omaha in the future. That's pretty much the only way any Big East team is getting to Omaha in the post-season.

[GoMuskies]

Creighton beat the Hall 2-1. Xavier gets the Hall at 4pm. Winner gets Creighton tomorrow at 4 on FS1.

[GoMuskies]

1-0 Hall after 3. Announcers still brutal.

[GoMuskies]

X has rallied from 3-0 down to lead 5-3 in the 8th.

[bobbiemcgee]

Muskies win!




BASEBALL| @XU_Base advances to the #BIGEASTBase title game tomorrow against @CU_Baseball. Game starts at 1pm ET, catch it on @FOXSports1

[Masterofreality]

5-3. Holy Jeezuz!

Tomorrow on Fox Sports 1! Cool.

This also assures at least a .500 season. Go X!

[xudash]

Me of little faith

I turned it off when SHU went up 3-0.

Wait to go X!

[bobbiemcgee]

Score this one 5-6:


http://thebiglead.com/2014/05/24/lsu-baseball-player-christian-ibarra-took-a-pop-up-off-the-forehead-teammate-alex-bregman-caught-it/



http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/052414aac.html

[BMoreX]

Looks empty again.

[GoMuskies]

Production value is incredibly low. Once the ball is off the bat, the camera angle is awful. You have basically no idea what is happening. Hope our soft-tossing lefty can get us 4 or 5 good innings!

[X-band '01]

I don't know if that angle is due to the park itself or the production crew.

Either way, a 1-2-3 inning to start. Xavier up to bat.

[xudash]

A monster truck jam precedes the baseball coverage.

I've never watched any of this and I've only seen about five minutes of this one. They're holding it in Tampa's stadium.

It was a rerun from a while ago, because people had jackets on.

I don't know what to say. Monster trucks? At least it could be viewed as an advancement from human slaughtering in the coliseum.

X holding steady in the second.

[GoMuskies]

Two perfect innings from our lefty. Three more innings and get this thing to the bullpen.

[GoMuskies]

Three perfect innings. This guy is not overpowering anyone, so it will be interesting to see if he is able to continue having success the second time through the order.

[X-band '01]

9 up, 9 down.

Xavier missed an opportunity to score last inning after a double play; would love to see them get the first run and put the pressure on Creighton.

[GoMuskies]

Big break on a Creighton defensive breakdown. 1-0 and threatening!

[X-band '01]

2-0 following a sac fly. That's cashing in.

[GoMuskies]

Looks to me like we're about to get into the Creighton bullpen.

And there it is. HUGE AB coming up. Bases loaded and two outs with a new pitcher. The game could very well come down to what happens in this AB.

[X-band '01]

Unfortunately Creighton stops the bleeding in the 3rd there. Now we get to see how they do in the 2nd time in the batting order.

[BandAid]

I do not care for our uniforms. Well, mainly the font. Actually, only the font. Why couldn't they match the normal Xavier font?

[GoMuskies]

Need to get the bullpen ready.

Got out of it, though! Five shutout innings is more than we could have reasonably asked for. Any outs he gets from here on are just gravy.

[X-band '01]

He had, what, 65 pitches? That's pretty efficient for 5 innings of work.

[GoMuskies]

They should have added Chris Sabo to the list of notable MLB alumni!

[GoMuskies]

5-0! Things are looking good now. Bloomington for us next week?

12 more outs

Now just 9 outs left. Xavier is outhitting Creighton 11-1. Adding on here in the 6th with the leadoff man on would be nice.

[GoMuskies]

7 three-hit, shutout innings for the freshman. Amazing and unexpected performance.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

3 more outs and X will win this championship.........how exciting!

[Masterofreality]

Trent "Steel Balls" Astle!

[Masterofreality]

NCAA baby!!!!!!!

[xudash]

Boom!

[X-band '01]

That was Al Leiter-esque.

And yes, that will punch Xavier's ticket for the NCAA; they'll find out tomorrow which region they're headed.

[BandAid]

Complete game shout out - unbelievable! On the road to Omaha baby!

[GoMuskies]

Just an amazing performance from the young freshman.

[Masterofreality]

What a freaking performance by the Freshman. A shutout, only 3 hits, 128 pitches and only in the biggest game of the year on National TV.

Trent Astle. Legendary!

Oh......and about that FLAGSHIP......

[paulxu]

Oh......and about that FLAGSHIP......

Hot damn! It's been a while since I drug this one out.

http://www.xavierhoops.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=844&d=1294836251

[xubball1993]

Congrats to the Xavier's Boys of Summer.

[bobbiemcgee]

http://www.goxavier.com/


We were 1-8 against the teams we beat in the championship.

[GoMuskies]

Here is the list of possible destinations (the NCAA announced site hosts tonight). Bloomington or Louisville would seem most logical.

•Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
•Florida (Gainesville, Fla.)
•Florida State (Tallahassee, Fla.)
•Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.)
•Louisiana-Lafayette (Lafayette, La.)
•Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)
•LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
•Miami (Miami, Fla.)
•Oklahoma State (Stillwater, Okla.)
•Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
•Oregon State (Corvallis, Ore.)
•Rice (Houston, Tex.)
•South Carolina (Columbia, S.C.)
•TCU (Fort Worth, Tex.)
•Vanderbilt (Nashville, Tenn.)
•Virginia (Charlottesville, Va.)

[OH.X.MI]

Hot damn! It's been a while since I drug this one out.

http://www.xavierhoops.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=844&d=1294836251

Hell ya!

[BBC 08]

If they end up in Louisville I might have to make an appearance.

[paulxu]

Nice recap. Someone pulled an Elet Hall in their hotel.
Maybe the basketball team could lend them their plane?

http://www.bigeast.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/052514aac.html

[GoMuskies]

Baseball America predicts that the Muskies will be in a VERY familiar regional at Louisville:

1) Louisville
2) Kentucky
3) North Carolina
4) Xavier

Xavier is 1-5 against the teams in this projected region this year (0-2 vs. Louisville, 0-1 vs. Kentucky, 1-2 vs. UNC). On the plus side, 1-5 is better than the 1-8 the Muskies were against Big East tournament teams prior to this past weekend.

[GoMuskies]

Just came across this, which may help explain how surprising yesterday's performance was:

On 4/22, Xavier visited NKU and Trent Astle was Xavier's starter. Astle lasted 1.1, giving up 6 earned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks in a 17-8 Xavier loss.

[danaandvictory]

I may have missed this, but why was Creighton eliminated yesterday afternoon? Weren't they 2-1 in the tournament? Shouldn't X have had to beat them twice in order to win?

[THRILLHOUSE]

I may have missed this, but why was Creighton eliminated yesterday afternoon? Weren't they 2-1 in the tournament? Shouldn't X have had to beat them twice in order to win?

Wasn't a true double elimination tournament. Big East chose the 1 game final format for TV purposes.

[Porkopolis]

Thrilled to see X advancing to the tournament. Omaha may still be a pipe dream but having a shot is fun.

[BBC 08]

Looks like we are going to Nashville. Of course it's there after I move away.

[GoMuskies]

At least the Muskies avoided playing a national seed in the regional. Tough to see a win in that group for X, but one never knows. If they get out of the regional by some miracle, it's off to Bloomington for the supers if the Hoosiers win their region.

[bobbiemcgee]

http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/baseball/d1

[X-band '01]

ESPN3 should have all the Nashville regional games broadcast via the Internet; start time will be 8 PM EDT on Friday night.

[paulxu]

I'm going to assume that Nashville(nee Atlanta) Muskie will be in attendance and provide complete game reports.

[Muskie]

If anyone is looking to pick up a championship t-shirt. He's the direct link (http://bigeast.teamfanshop.com/COLLEGE_Xavier_Musketeers/Xavier_Musketeers_2014_Big_East_Baseball_Tournamen t_Champions_T-Shirt_-_Navy_Blue).

[GoMuskies]

If anyone is looking to pick up a championship t-shirt. He's the direct link (http://bigeast.teamfanshop.com/COLLEGE_Xavier_Musketeers/Xavier_Musketeers_2014_Big_East_Baseball_Tournamen t_Champions_T-Shirt_-_Navy_Blue).

Nice find. After wasting so much time following this team, I had to buy one.

[Muskied]

Nice find. After wasting so much time following this team, I had to buy one.

Sweet! if someone gets this can they comment on it? is it good material? Worth the buy?

[GoMuskies]

I will tell you in 6-7 days.

[bobbiemcgee]

Vandy is a powerhouse. We have a snowball's chance but hoping for a miracle.

[Muskie]

Vandy is a powerhouse. We have a snowball's chance but hoping for a miracle.

We also thought that going into the Big East Tourney. Perhaps the team stays hot. Maybe they make a "Run".

[GoMuskies]

We also thought that going into the Big East Tourney. Perhaps the team stays hot. Maybe they make a "Run".

The 3rd seed in the regional (Clemson) is better than Creighton, so this is a much more monumental task. However, I'm keeping mid-June open for a quick trip to Omaha, if necessary.

[Xtemporaneous]

Does anyone know if the BE baseball championship game v. Creighton is available online? I forgot to record it and would love to see it.

[Muskied]

Does anyone know if the BE baseball championship game v. Creighton is available online? I forgot to record it and would love to see it.

I'm not going to pretend to know anything about college baseball, but it looks like Vandy is really struggling right now. Lost 6 of 11 to 5 different teams..who knows, it only takes one good pitching performance!

[X-band '01]

Yeah, but those losses were all to teams hosting regionals this weekend (Ole Miss, Louisville, South Carolina) and a pair of Top 8 seeds (Florida and LSU). It's much more likely they'll be happy to see some fresh faces.

[muskiefan82]

It is baseball. Sometimes the better team loses. It just happens that way. Just hope that the ball goes where they ain't for us and right at the X players when the other teams up.

[bobbiemcgee]

True, but we lost 9 of 11 before the tournament.

[X-band '01]

True, but we lost 9 of 11 before the tournament.

True, but at least they managed to beat 3 of those teams (St. John's, Seton Hall, Creighton) when facing elimination.

Had Butler won their finale, Xavier wouldn't have even qualified for the Big East tournament.

[bobbiemcgee]

Yep, we're definitely playing on "house money".

[GoMuskies]

Here is the Nashville Regional preview from Baseball America. Nittoli v. Beede in game 1? Even though Nittoli has been the best pitcher, I think Xavier has used Klever as the Friday (#1) starter all year, so it will be interesting to see if they stick with that tomorrow. Nittoli started the second game in Coney Island (beating St. John's).

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-nashville-regional-preview/

[GoMuskies]

GoXavier.com answered my question. Nittoli will start tomorrow.

[throwbackmuskie]

Beede is a stud. I think Vandy has 5+ pitchers that throw 90+

[GoMuskies]

Beede is a stud. I think Vandy has 5+ pitchers that throw 90+

41 walks and 12 hit batsmen in 90 innings. Xavier has to hope for some charity from Beede, I think, and then get some key hits once he puts guys on base. He pitched all year in the SEC, and hitter are only batting .215 against him.

[nuts4xu]

Music City Muskie (formerly ATL Muskie) has his tickets and will be in the house supporting our baseball Muskies.

Let's Go X!

[bobbiemcgee]

Beede is a stud. I think Vandy has 5+ pitchers that throw 90+

He turned down 2.4 million so he could pitch against X (sarcasm font) 14-0 against SEC.

This is cool:

https://twitter.com/AUPPL/status/471351896155119616/photo/1

[X-band '01]

In Game 1, Oregon is hammering Clemson 11-1 in the bottom of the 6th inning.

[Music City Muskie]

Music City Muskie (formerly ATL Muskie) has his tickets and will be in the house supporting our baseball Muskies.

Let's Go X!

Hell yeah! Heading down to The Hawk in a couple of hours. Wife and two kids in tow decked out in X shirts and hats. Tall order facing Candy Vandy but we can pull off a W!

[GoMuskies]

In Game 1, Oregon is hammering Clemson 11-1 in the bottom of the 6th inning.

So once the Muskies dispatch Vandy tonight, Oregon will be tired out from all that circling the bases and should be easy prey for X tomorrow night.

That game is 18-1 now. Clemson was a controversial at-large. Apparently they didn't deserve a bid. Ouch.

[X-band '01]

Either that, or get a completely fried Clemson bullpen. It's 18-1 going into the 7th.

[paulxu]

Don't they have some sort of mercy rule?

[GoMuskies]

Don't they have some sort of mercy rule?

Yes, after you lose twice you get to go home.

[PMI]

When is the first Xavier/Vandy game? Is it on TV?

[Music City Muskie]

When is the first Xavier/Vandy game? Is it on TV?

8PM/7 C. Look for yours truly down the 3rd base line about 12 rows up. Might try to sneak in a "Bob Huggins Has No Integrity" sign.

[GoMuskies]

Is it on TV?

Sort of. ESPN3, I believe.

[X-band '01]

Correct Go. You can also go to the NCAA's website to click on the ESPN3 link via the Nashville regional:

http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/baseball/d1

[XUOHTX]

Let's skew the numbers, go here and Vote for X

http://www.ncaa.com/game/baseball/d1/2014/05/30/xavier-vanderbilt

[bobbiemcgee]

We're still undefeated in the tournament.

[BMoreX]

After an hour delay, we're underway now.

[paulxu]

Nice chance lost with a couple on and 1 out.

[GoMuskies]

Well...we made it further than Dayton and Cincinnati (and Ohio State). And....we've got a pretty good shot at beating an ACC powerhouse tomorrow. So there's that.

[paulxu]

The Clempson faithful here are not happy. I hope they don't take it out on us.

it would make my life a lot easier if we can figure out how to bounce back and eliminate them.

[muskienick]

The Clempson faithful here are not happy. I hope they don't take it out on us.

it would make my life a lot easier if we can figure out how to bounce back and eliminate them.

Let's hope the Muskies follow the same script they used to win the Big East Tourney --- lose the first game and then win out!

[Music City Muskie]

Rough night last night boys. Headed back down to The Hawk in about an hour. Beede was dealing last night so not much you can do about that. Clemson got humiliated yesterday so they'll be out for blood for sure.

[paulxu]

Bring this one home MCM.

[GoMuskies]

Klever (3.99 ERA) vs. Gossett (1.78) for Clempson.

0-0 with Xavier batting in the bottom of the first.

[MADXSTER]

Keep the updates coming. Thanks


Klever (3.99 ERA) vs. Gossett (1.78) for Clempson.

0-0 with Xavier batting in the bottom of the first.

[GoMuskies]

1-1 as X comes to bat in the 4th.

[GoMuskies]

2-2 with X hitting in the 5th.

[X-band '01]

Xavier adds another run in the 5th and gets a 1-2-3 inning in the Clemson half of the 6th.

[paulxu]

Let's go X!

Crap. 1st and 3rd, no outs...and we got nothing out of it.

Hanging on.

[X-band '01]

Lightning delay. May or may not help as Clemson has a runner at 2nd with 1 out and a 1-2 count.

Will Klever be left to pitch?

[GoMuskies]

There's no way Klever can come back after the delay. He had to be about done anyway. My guess would be Campbell.

[Music City Muskie]

Had a media guy from Vandy come sit with us right before this delay. He had been sitting on the Clemson side but said, " I decided to move over and sit with the more electric fan base." There aren't a ton of X fans here but the ones who are here are loud. And I just got interviewed by Fox 17 here in Nashville. I repped Xavier Nation for sure!

[GoMuskies]

Are they ever going to play again?

[BMoreX]

Game is back.

[BMoreX]

5-2 X man on third with one out for the Muskies.

[GoMuskies]

Clemson may fire their coach if they lose to the likes of XAVIER in the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

Would be great to see Xavier get a shot at the Ducks tomorrow.

[paulxu]

And I just got interviewed by Fox 17 here in Nashville.

Yikes. It's a good thing Nuts wasn't with you


Clemson may fire their coach if they lose to the likes of XAVIER in the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

Would be great to see Xavier get a shot at the Ducks tomorrow.

You have no idea how sweet that would be for me. The people around here will be hearing about it for a long time if we can pull it off.

[bobbiemcgee]

X goes up 6-2 in the 7th. Clemson with a bomb in the 8th, now 6-4. We need 5 outs.

[X-band '01]

3 outs left to go. Xavier up 6-4 in the middle of the 8th after a 2-run HR by Clempson.

[paulxu]

Come on guys. Get this done. Put in MCM in the 9th.

[BMoreX]

1 down, man on first

[GoMuskies]

X is now 2-3 all-time in NCAA Tournament games.

[BMoreX]

Win Column.

[bobbiemcgee]

Wow. :hypnotized:

[GoMuskies]

Xavier > Florida State

[X-band '01]

Florida's also in trouble in their elimination game - already down 5-0 against North Carolina in their regional.

[paulxu]

Hot Damn! I can't wait to watch the local news at 11.

[bobbiemcgee]

"Clemson was in possession of the nation's fourth-longest streak of at least one NCAA tournament victory in each of its past 26 appearances, dating to 1987 and spanning 12 different host states. That streak was snapped, bowing out with defeats to Oregon and Xavier and losses charged to the Tigers' dual aces, Gossett and Matthew Crownover."


http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140531/PC20/140539864/1177/clemson-trails-xavier-in-7th-game-will-resume-after-lightning-delay-at-5-40-pm

[xudash]

Hot Damn! I can't wait to watch the local news at 11.

Being a Cock and Xavier fan, I imagine your Clemson friends will be avoiding you for a while!

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Great game. Go X !

[paulxu]

Being a Cock and Xavier fan, I imagine your Clemson friends will be avoiding you for a while!

Not a chance. I'll be tracking them down.
Now...if we'd just schedule a BB game in Columbia...

[GoMuskies]

So who do we want to win the nightcap? I'm going with Oregon, because if you're gonna dream you may as well dream big. I think Xavier's got a better shot at beating Oregon twice (HA!) than Vandy twice on their home field. So I'm hoping for an Oregon win tonight so that Xavier only needs to beat Vandy once.

[GoMuskies]

Now...if we'd just schedule a BB game in Columbia...

Hey, wait in line!

[X-band '01]

And make Frank Martin angry? No thanks - we've seen what happens when he gets angry.

[throwbackmuskie]

Told you guys clem5on chokes in the post season.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier > Florida

[Music City Muskie]

What a great win on a great day! Lets go X!

[GoMuskies]

Given that Oregon beat Clemson 18-1 yesterday and they have 1 hit through four innings today, I'm going to go ahead and go on record that Vandy's pitching is not too shabby.

[SkyWalker]

Congrats X!

[GoMuskies]

I don't think a win over Oregon is outside the realm of possibility. I assume Astle will go tomorrow.

[Music City Muskie]

Son and I repping Xavier on Nashville TV.

https://twitter.com/KevDock/status/472946934013902850

[xudash]

Son and I repping Xavier on Nashville TV.

https://twitter.com/KevDock/status/472946934013902850

Well done!

[GoMuskies]

Oregon's starter has a 4.20 ERA. X is going to need to score 6-7 runs, at least, I think.

[GoMuskies]

Astle gave up a two-out, 2-run HR in the first. 2-0 Ducks.

[paulxu]

Delays are good.

[X-band '01]

That changed quickly. Xavier manages a pair of 2-out RBI singles and Jernigan gets a 3-run HR out to left field.

Xavier now leads 5-3 in the bottom of the 6th.

[X-band '01]

That HR landed on the roof of Memorial Gym just beyond the left-field fence.

[X-band '01]

Add another 3-run HR to total - it's now 8-3 Xavier in the bottom of the 7th!

And as I type, the next hitter hits it to the warning track. It looks like they're hitting beach balls the past 2 innings.

[paulxu]

Yikes. Gave up 3 in the 8th.
Time to bear down and protect this 2 run lead and win the game!

[X-band '01]

That 2nd home run looms even larger now that the heart of the Oregon lineup will be up in the 9th.

[D-West & PO-Z]

UGH! Terrible mistake ties the game in the ninth.

[X-band '01]

Wow. 2 errors by Jernigan opened the door to the Oregon rally.

Now the Ducks get a shallow pop to left and can't get the go-ahead run in after the left fielder slips after catching the 2nd out.

[OH.X.MI]

The boys gotta dig deep here. Can't let this get away from us.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Wow, got out of it without giving up the lead at least. SS with two errors though. Hopefully they can get a walkoff in the bottom of the 9th.

[X-band '01]

Further damage averted in the 9th. Top of the order coming up for Xavier.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Wow, defensive collapse here looks like it may doom the Muskies.

[GoMuskies]

Big time choke job, eh? Oh well. Saves me three hours tonight!

[sgarcia]

Shortstop won't be sleeping tonight after one of the worst 1/2 innings I've ever seen from a fielder.

[GoMuskies]

Is that Chris Burke calling the game for ESPN3? If so, that's one of my former baseball pupils. Needless to say, he didn't learn much from me.

[X-band '01]

Yes sir. He's been doing all the games at Nashville.

[paulxu]

Nice effort Muskies. Wish they could have held on in the top of the 9th.

[Music City Muskie]

Sorry boys, I tried. I was doing a rain dance hopingfor another delay. We flat out ran out of gas. On the plus side had we won then tonight's game likely would have gotten out of control quickly. No shame in how we played until we flat ran out of steam. Great season and great weekend. We'll be back!

[Masterofreality]

Way to represent on TV, Music City!

[Cheesehead]

When is the last time X even made the NCAA tournament in baseball? The team was not that great when I was at XU (87-91). No offense to any former players but I think it's great that soccer have improved in recent seasons.

[GoMuskies]

This was Xavier's second trip ever to the baseball tournament. I think the other was in 2010, and Xavier basically did the same thing that time around, going 1-2. However, Xavier was blown out in their third game last time, so I guess this was progress.

[Xville]

for the baseball team to ever reach the next level, the sports department is going to have to sink some money into the program, which it sounds to me like that is in future plans. For them to have reached the NCAA's twice out of the past 5 years is a pretty monumental achievement considering the place where they play their home games.

[nuts4xu]

For them to have reached the NCAA's twice out of the past 5 years is a pretty monumental achievement considering the place where they play their home games.

For a northern team with the type of facilities Xavier has to work with to make the NCAA tournament is one hell of an accomplishment. I would love to see Xavier afford a new baseball facility. The one they have now is very dated and the program needs better to recruit better.

[throwbackmuskie]

Tons of great local talent, need to try and figure out how to get them to stay home.

[GoMuskies]

I love baseball, but I'm not sure it's worth a major investment, frankly. If you're truly serious about it in the north, you need to have a field like Louisville and Wichita State use where there's FieldTurf everywhere other than the pitching mound (Wichita's field may actually have dirt around home as well). Otherwise, you're going to be playing all of your early season games on the road every year.

[X-band '01]

Given Xavier's space constraints, if they do build a new ballpark, would they have to take down Hayden Field or acquire land elsewhere for a new facility?

I'd be curious to see what standards the Big East as a conference has for facilities for their sports.

[throwbackmuskie]

Nothing wrong with FieldTurf. I think they can expand and build up what they have now, just need to be creative.

[Xville]

I love baseball, but I'm not sure it's worth a major investment, frankly. If you're truly serious about it in the north, you need to have a field like Louisville and Wichita State use where there's FieldTurf everywhere other than the pitching mound (Wichita's field may actually have dirt around home as well). Otherwise, you're going to be playing all of your early season games on the road every year.

I guess one of the things the administration is going to have to weigh is do they mind losing even more money every year with this sport, to have a good baseball team year in and year out? Also, is this a sport in the north, that we would ever be able to make money on? I have zero insight into how the sports department thinks about baseball, but i wonder if this is one of the things they may be weighing..."if we get rid of things like cross country, track that never have a chance of generating revenue, could we put that money toward baseball in the hope that if we build it, they will come." Again, I have zero insight into this, but just wondering if this is something they are contemplating.

[MADXSTER]

Does the baseball team generate money for each game they play in the NCAA like basketball does?? I would think so but...

[X-band '01]

I guess one of the things the administration is going to have to weigh is do they mind losing even more money every year with this sport, to have a good baseball team year in and year out? Also, is this a sport in the north, that we would ever be able to make money on? I have zero insight into how the sports department thinks about baseball, but i wonder if this is one of the things they may be weighing..."if we get rid of things like cross country, track that never have a chance of generating revenue, could we put that money toward baseball in the hope that if we build it, they will come." Again, I have zero insight into this, but just wondering if this is something they are contemplating.

Even successful programs normally lose money on baseball; it's not unique to northern schools.

[Xville]

Even successful programs normally lose money on baseball; it's not unique to northern schools.

i'm aware thanks. What I meant is that it makes it that much harder to make money in the north than it is in the south for this particular sport. In the last 15 years or so, the sport has started to make some changes, and money has started to be spent on it, because colleges have figured out that it is possible to make money on it though it is still very difficult to do. However, it is much easier to make money if you are a college in the south or to the west due to 1. weather and 2. popularity of the sport for college

[ArizonaXUGrad]

i'm aware thanks. What I meant is that it makes it that much harder to make money in the north than it is in the south for this particular sport. In the last 15 years or so, the sport has started to make some changes, and money has started to be spent on it, because colleges have figured out that it is possible to make money on it though it is still very difficult to do. However, it is much easier to make money if you are a college in the south or to the west due to 1. weather and 2. popularity of the sport for college

I believe the NCAA is adjusting game rules to even the playing field a bit. They used to let schools schedule games in early February already allowing warm weather schools to start early. That was pushed back a few weeks, but I still think it favors good climate schools.

I think the only sports that generally make money are Mens football, basketball, and hockey. There are of course exceptions to that rule like UConn womens basketball.

[Muskie]

Here's the X v. Oregon Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPKC2xczwJg&feature=share&list=UUPrkZpb1IH 1mvG_gaEARB9Q&index=1

[X-band '01]

That subregional was one of the few that played mostly to the seed line. #1 Oregon State and Indiana also failed to make it to the super regional round this year.

[X-band '01]

Beede is a stud. I think Vandy has 5+ pitchers that throw 90+


He turned down 2.4 million so he could pitch against X (sarcasm font) 14-0 against SEC.

This is cool:

https://twitter.com/AUPPL/status/471351896155119616/photo/1

In tonight's MLB Draft, Beede (the Vandy starter against Xavier) was taken #14 overall by the Giants. I have a feeling he'll be giving the Reds nightmares in a few seasons.

[Juice]

In tonight's MLB Draft, Beede (the Vandy starter against Xavier) was taken #14 overall by the Giants. I have a feeling he'll be giving the Reds nightmares in a few seasons.

I think 50 Cent could give the Reds hitters nightmares.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNAKTAtMLhY

[bobbiemcgee]

#2 pick Kolek with a 102 mph fastball out of hs. Unreal.

[nkymuskie]

#2 pick Kolek with a 102 mph fastball out of hs. Unreal.

His Tommy John surgery was just scheduled for 2017

[BMoreX]

@FOX19Joe: XU product goes in 25th round RT @MiLBMariners Congrats to @VinnyNittoli on being drafted by the Mariners!!

[bobbiemcgee]

....And now with the 837th pick, the Padres select Johnny Baseball. WTF?

[GoMuskies]

I guess our guys shouldn't feel so bad about getting buzz-sawed by Vandy. The Dores play game 1 of the championship series tonight against UVA.

[X-band '01]

Congrats to former Musketeer Vinny Nittoli on advancing to The Show!

Nittoli called up to the Mets - he was a catcher at X but getting called up as a pitcher for New York.