Xavier Baseball: 2021 Season

[WestToBest]

The Xavier Musketeers get their 2021 campaign underway on Saturday with a doubleheader in College Station against the Aggies of Texas A&M.
Highlights of Xavier's non-conference schedule include three against A&M, four against Auburn, and four against UC.
Also, with UCONN joining the Big East this year, they add a very good program to the conference.

Billy O'Connor is still at the helm for the Musketeers, and Xavier has a pretty talented roster that should again be a threat in the Big East.

[paulxu]

After A&M, they swing through Spartanburg to play 4 against Wofford.
Looking at their schedule, they play 4 series in the South to open the year. I assume they go home between each series?

[bobbiemcgee]

Looks like we won the opener:

https://12thman.com/sports/baseball/opponent-history/xavier-university/213

[GoMuskies]

Looks like we won the opener:

https://12thman.com/sports/baseball/opponent-history/xavier-university/213

Swept the doubleheader. 2-0 Muskies

[GoMuskies]

Xavier's best player, Allbrey Major, has unfortunately transferred to Arizona State. He was the 2020 Big East preseason player of the year. Now he's starting in LF and batting 5th for Arizona State.

[bobbiemcgee]

Getting blown out in Game 3 now but good start to the season.

[paulxu]

Muskies slated to be here for 4 games with Terriers.
Wofford has 1,692 students, but has a VERY generous benefactor.

https://www.wofford.edu/about/news/news-archives/2021/richardson-gift

[paulxu]

Got to watch the Muskies play yesterday at Wofford.
We didn't fair so well, and lost the series 1-3.
Spoke to some parents who followed their sons on the road, some driving from Cincinnati and further, to see them play.
Nice to interact with other Xavier fans; not many in the Upstate...but a lot retired in Hilton Head!
Go Muskies :sword:

[paulxu]

Rough start to the season for Muskie baseball.
2-1 v. A&M
1-3 v. Wofford
Auburn series cancelled
Mercer series cancelled.
Guess Covid still is making sports hard.

[GoMuskies]

Looks like the rare mid March weekend where the weather is actually going to cooperate in Cincinnati for a 4 game series. Would be nice to get 3 or 4 off Googs and the Bearcats this weekend.

[GoMuskies]

ALWAYS nice to kick some UC ass! Xavier kicked some UC ass today. 2-1 Muskies in the first of four.

[GoMuskies]

16-8 spanking of the Bearcats today. We won't talk about Saturday's game.

Muskies have a shot tomorrow to win 3 of 4.

[Masterofreality]

16-8 spanking of the Bearcats today. We won't talk about Saturday's game.

Muskies have a shot tomorrow to win 3 of 4.

Yup. We, at least guaranteed a series split.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier swept Dayton in a doubleheader today. However, the scores were 24-16 and 14-11. Not super promising for pitching depth.

[bjf123]

Xavier swept Dayton in a doubleheader today. However, the scores were 24-16 and 14-11. Not super promising for pitching depth.

Football back at X?


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[GoMuskies]

X entered the top of the 8th today trailing 2-1. They put up an 11 spot in the 8th and won 12-3 for their first Big East win.

[GoMuskies]

Muskies are 4-2 in the league now. They're beating the teams they should, which is nice. Top 4 make the tournament.

I just noticed that Georgetown has played exactly six games so far this year. First game was April 7. They're apparently not even trying. Assume it has to do with the District's insane approach to Covid, but it's pretty crazy they only are at 6 games now. Xavier needs to smoke those guys when they get to them.

[GoMuskies]

Another win for the Muskies today. 5-2 in the league now. Big series next week. If they can get 2 from UConn it would go a long way towards solidifying X's spot in the Big East Tournament.

[GoMuskies]

If you're interested in Xavier baseball but aren't interested enought to invest in watching a whole game....today is the day for you. Xavier and UConn are resuming their suspended game at 10:30 this morning. They will be going to the top of inning #12 tied 13-13. So you can catch a miniature version of a baseball game that will probably only last an inning.

For the more hardcore, you can also stick around for a full game starting shortly afterwards. I think they livestream the games at goxavier.com.

[GoMuskies]

Muskies lose, 15-13. :(

[GoMuskies]

Xavier won the nightcap 6-5 to get the split. Puts X in great shape to make the Big East Tournament.

[xudash]

Xavier won the nightcap 6-5 to get the split. Puts X in great shape to make the Big East Tournament.

That's great news. Good for Xavier Baseball.

I have to say that is a beautiful setting - Hayden Field. Looking back at the Academic Row and over Victory Parkway.

[GoMuskies]

Muskies lost two of three to Villanova, who is very bad. Not ideal.

[GoMuskies]

Huge weekend for the baseball Muskies. After a disappointing trip to Villanova last weekend, the Muskies host 12-3 Seton Hall for four games. A split would be huge for Xavier's efforts to hold the #4 spot in the Big East standings.

[bobbiemcgee]

Dropped the 1st one 4-1.

[GoMuskies]

Thought Xavier had won game 2 as they lead 2-1 in the middle of the 7th. But apparently only the first game was a 7 inning game. Weird. 2-1 bottom 7. Go Muskies!

[GoMuskies]

Went ahead and won 6-1. Need the split tomorrow to be in good shape.

[MADXSTER]

Appreciate the updates

[bobbiemcgee]

After leading going into the last inning, dropped the opener 7-2.

[GoMuskies]

Got the needed split. Good weekend.

[Masterofreality]

10-8 in the league with a home 4 gamer vs horrible Georgetown. Gotta sweep that and their Golden for the BE Tournament.
Why has UConn only played 7 league games?

[GoMuskies]

UConn lost 6 games to Covid, and their series with Butler was cancelled due to "travel issues". No idea what that means!

[Masterofreality]

UConn lost 6 games to Covid, and their series with Butler was cancelled due to "travel issues". No idea what that means!

Boy. Too bad Connecticut didn’t have a Governor like DeSantis!

[GoMuskies]

Xavier needs to get at least three of four from last place Georgetown this weekend. It would be a bonus if UConn would put a hurting on Villanova, who are the Muskies only real competition for the #4 Big East Tournament seed.

[Masterofreality]

Muskies swept a Doubleheader from Georgetown today to finally get back to .500 overall at 21-21.
They are also 12-8 in the league. A sweep of the Hoyas this weekend would be extremely sweet.

[bobbiemcgee]

L 5-1 DH tmrw

[GoMuskies]

Need to win the series finale tomorrow. cannot split with a shit team like the Hoyas, and next week in Omaha will be difficult.

[Masterofreality]

Up 3-0 after 3.

[Masterofreality]

Up 6-0 after 5

[Masterofreality]

Need to win the series finale tomorrow. cannot split with a shit team like the Hoyas, and next week in Omaha will be difficult.

Final 9-0 X. Mission Accomplished

[GoMuskies]

Nice. UConn leads Villanova by 1 in the 8th. Would be huge if UConn could hold on. We may need some help from St. John's next week, too, because winning at Creighton will be tough.

Into the 9th now still UConn by 1. We'll have a 4 game lead over Villanova if UConn holds on, so our magic # would be 1.

[GoMuskies]

Are we really playing another against Georgetown today? Five game series? Covid has made a lot of things weird.

Ah, the second game is not being counted in the conference standings.

[Masterofreality]

Are we really playing another against Georgetown today? Five game series? Covid has made a lot of things weird.

Ah, the second game is not being counted in the conference standings.

Correct. And Villanova lost so that helps

[Masterofreality]

FWIW, X swept today although the second game didn’t count in BE Standings.
It does count in the season record though so FINALLY, the team is over .500 at 23-22 and 13-9 at 4th place in the BE.

[Masterofreality]

Xavier topped Creighton last night with 5 runs in the ninth 10-5 to clinch 4th place! No matter that Villanova won.
X still has a chance to move up. 24-22/14-9 on the season.

[muskiefan82]

That was a very close game until the last 3 innings when everything went crazy. Back and forth and then the ninth when X's bats lit things up.

[GoMuskies]

Awesome. I forgot they started the series last night. Glad to see Xavier will be playing next week!

[Masterofreality]

Awesome. I forgot they started the series last night. Glad to see Xavier will be playing next week!

It’s a long shot that they can get to 3rd. X has to sweep and The Hall has to lose 2.
No matter really. All 4 of these teams are pretty equal. And X hits dingers!

[GoMuskies]

Why couldn't X pass UConn?

Xavier isn't going to sweep....but if they did the Muskies would pass Creighton.

[Masterofreality]

Why couldn't X pass UConn?

Xavier isn't going to sweep....but if they did the Muskies would pass Creighton.

Welp. They could. If Xavier sweeps and UConn lost their last 2. But then they wouldn’t pass The Hall.

[GoMuskies]

We'd be the #2 seed in that scenario. Which would be amazing.

[bobbiemcgee]

X 5-2 top of 6:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwMWL87iwME

[Masterofreality]

We'd be the #2 seed in that scenario. Which would be amazing.

Welp, one more win in the Opener today, now 25-22/15-9.
UConn beating Seton Hall 6-3 after 6 today
Getting interesting.

[GoMuskies]

Got it to the 7th 1-1 in game 2. Seems to be no reason we can't win the tournament next weekend. Too bad Allbry Major transferred to Arizona State.

[bobbiemcgee]

Hits below the Mendoza at ASU.

[bobbiemcgee]

Dropped the nitecap 3-2 in 10.

[Masterofreality]

Got it to the 7th 1-1 in game 2. Seems to be no reason we can't win the tournament next weekend. Too bad Allbry Major transferred to Arizona State.

As stupid a transfer as Garrett Wood, Xavier’s 2019 Big East Individual Champion, to Kentucky where he only played in 5 Tournaments in 2020 and couldn’t even crack the course this year. Abject insanity.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier wrapped up the regular season with a 3-2 loss, but if Creighton is the best team in the league I'd say Xavier has a better than average shot next weekend. Should be fun.

[Masterofreality]

Xavier wrapped up the regular season with a 3-2 loss, but if Creighton is the best team in the league I'd say Xavier has a better than average shot next weekend. Should be fun.

UConn finished first and our first game matchup

[GoMuskies]

Let's go X!

[GoMuskies]

Ouch

[Xville]

Beat seton hall...plays the loser of creighton-UConn today at 4...go x

[paulxu]

Muskies prevail in second game, late last night.
Play loser of Creighton/UConn 12 noon game, at 4 PM, with a chance to advance to the finals.

GO MUSKIES!

[paulxu]

Beat seton hall...plays the loser of creighton-UConn today at 4...go x

You beat me to it :)

[paulxu]

Talked to my buddy out at the field in Mason.

They have a free concession stand for dogs, burgers, etc. Good on ya Big East !

[Xville]

Top 4 2-1 X....18 outs left

[Lloyd Braun]

Big chance ... bases juiced one out.

[Xville]

Clinging to that 2-1 lead..6 outs left. Come on X!

[Xville]

And that’s a winnah! Find some way to beat UConn twice tomorrow and go dancing

[noteggs]

Talked to my buddy out at the field in Mason.

They have a free concession stand for dogs, burgers, etc. Good on ya Big East !

Prasco has a lot events throughout the year and gives out free food that is donated by local businesses. Not sure if it was them or BE, but like you said great thing to hear.

[Masterofreality]

Props to Billy O’Connor!!
Like the fine coach that he is he gets the team playing it’s best ball at year end. They are guaranteed to finish over .500.
Let’s play, and take TWO tomorrow boys!!

[MADXSTER]

Prasco does this for all events.

[paulxu]

Wish I was in Cincinnati.

[SkyWalker]

On my way to Prasco Park. Go X!

[paulxu]

Yesterday I found a youtube link that let me watch the baseball game live.

Can't find one today. Any help?

[xudash]

FS2

Bases loaded in the 6th slips away.

[Lloyd Braun]

2-0 yes

[Xville]

Boom! Suck it UConn....3-0 good guys

[GoMuskies]

5-0. Let's do this!

[Xville]

And that’s a winnah... 5-4. One more...f uconn

[GoMuskies]

One more. Let's go!!!

[Masterofreality]

Tough way to lose, but love the way that team battled to the end.
All in on Billy O’Conner getting that team to the final game and finishing over .500 with a tough schedule. They played their best ball at seasons end.
Also a great story about Luke Bell. So happy he’s a Muskie, but so sad about his Dad.His Grandfather Buddy was at Prasco to see him pitch three scoreless innings on Sunday. Excited about his future.

Go X!

[GoMuskies]

UConn got a #2 seed in a regional, so they were no joke. They were a tournament team win or lose on Sunday. Wish the Muskies could have gotten one more to give me a reason to look forward to the baseball tournament.

[GoMuskies]

As stupid a transfer as Garrett Wood, Xavier’s 2019 Big East Individual Champion, to Kentucky where he only played in 5 Tournaments in 2020 and couldn’t even crack the course this year. Abject insanity.

At least Allbry got to play in the NCAA Tournament. In 4 regional games, Allbry went 0-1 with a strikeout against Fairfield.

[paulxu]

When you add a guy to your staff, try to get a picture with the right hat.

https://goxavier.com/news/2021/8/13/joey-bellini-joins-billy-o-conners-baseball-staff.aspx

[bjf123]

Well, that’s an unfortunate photo choice.


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[GoMuskies]

Looks like Xavier starting next year Xavier might be able to reasonably consider playing the occasional home baseball game prior to April.

https://twitter.com/XavierBASE/status/1450197492709175299?s=20

[bobbiemcgee]

https://goxavier.com/documents/2021/11/30/XavierBase2022_2.pdf

maybe somebody can change the year on this thread.