Zac Lowther from Xavier pitched 7.0 innings in Xavier's 13-3 win over St. John's.
No. 3 Xavier Bests No. 2 St. John’s 13-3 In Game One Of #BIGEASTbase Championship
Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. – An eight-run ninth inning and a stellar pitching performance by Xavier’s Zac Lowther carried the Musketeers past the top-seeded St. John’s Red Storm 13-3 in the first game of the 2017 BIG EAST Baseball Championship Presented by Jeep.
Lowther, an All-BIG EAST First Team honoree, went 7.0 innings, striking out nine and allowing just one run on four hits and 118 pitches. His performance entered him in the Xavier record books as the single-season strikeout record holder.
The Musketeers took an early 2-0 lead in their first at bat and scored their third run in the fifth to score three unanswered runs on the Red Storm. St. John’s scored its first run in the bottom of the fifth.
After eight innings, Xavier led 5-3. It wasn’t until the ninth inning where the Musketeers pulled away. Xavier’s offense was led by designated hitter Conor Grammes who went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Right fielder Joe Gellenbeck went 2-of-5 with two runs, three RBI and a big homer in the eighth inning to put XU up 5-1. Shortstop Chris Givin went 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI.
Just two days after becoming the second player in the history of the BIG EAST to be named the conference’s pitcher and freshman of the year simultaneously, St. John’s righty Sean Mooney suffered the first loss of his collegiate career. Mooney, surrendered two earned runs on seven hits in six innings of work, striking out three.
Xavier advances to the winners’ bracket of day two of the league’s tournament which will be the second game of a Saturday doubleheader played at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Game time will be approximately at 6:30 p.m. local, 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Xavier will face the winner of Thursday’s second game between No. 1 seed Creighton and No. 4 seed Seton Hall. St. John’s will play in Saturday’s first game against the loser of Creighton/Seton Hall.
Xavier (30-25) is 3-0 against St. John’s (40-10) in tournament play.