NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Xavier baseball dropped its opening game of the NCAA Nashville Regional on Friday afternoon, 5-4, to No. 24 Oregon (No. 2 seed) at Hawkins Field.
The Musketeers (37-24) return to action on Saturday, June 3 at 3 p.m. ET vs the winner of Vanderbilt/Eastern Illinois (game played on June 2 at 8 p.m. ET).
Xavier took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring both runs with two outs in the frame.
Matt McCormick drove in
Jack Housinger with a single down the left-field line for the first run before a
Garrett Schultz double scored
Andrew Walker on the following play.
Oregon tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs on three hits. The Ducks added one run in the second inning on a hit and two Xavier errors.
The Musketeers regained the lead, 4-3, in the third inning on a two-RBI single up the middle by Schultz. Xavier maintained its lead until the bottom of the seventh inning. The Ducks took a 5-4 advantage on back-to-back doubles from Colby Shade and Drew Cowley.
Xavier threatened in the top off the ninth with a leadoff single by
Grant Stephenson. Oregon's closer Josh Mollerus struck out
Jack Housinger on the next play before inducing a double play ball from
Matthew DePrey to end the game. Mollerus earned his 10th save of the season.
The Ducks had four more hits (9-5) than Xavier and committed three fewer errors (3-0). Both teams left seven runners on base.
- Brant Alazaus made his 17th start of the season and went 6.1 innings. The LHP threw four strikeouts and allowed four runs (three earned).
- Brant Alazaus now has 102 strikeouts on the season. The Alliance, Ohio, native is only the third Xavier pitcher to throw 100 strikeouts in a season, ranking third in single-season school history. Zach Lowhter ranks first (123 Ks - 2017), while Lou Witte ranks second (107 Ks - 1997).
- Jonathan Kelly (3-4) took the loss, allowing two hits and one run in 1.2 innings of work. The RHP recorded one strikeout and one walk in his team leading 31st appearance of the season (tied for third most in single-season history).
- Jack Housinger was walked twice, increasing his season total to 61 - matching the Xavier single-season record (61 walks set by Mike Sak in 1995). The senior shortstop went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run.
- Garrett Schultz went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and the game's only stolen base. The senior outfielder now has eight multi-hit games this season and three games with three RBI.
- Matt McCormick went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Grant Stephenson finished the game 1-for-4 at the plate.