CHICAGO – Freshman designated hitter Nick Altobelli (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) dropped an RBI single into centerfield to score junior outfielder Sean Moore (Chicago, Ill./Calumet St. Joseph/Thornwood) for the winning run in a 4-3 victory to help Saint Xavier University baseball (13-12/6-2 CCAC) split a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) doubleheader with St. Ambrose University (Iowa) at Richard R. Ferrell Memorial Field Thursday afternoon in Chicago, Ill. The Fighting Bees won game one after their starter, Sergio Marchizza, threw a three-hit shutout in a 5-0 decision in seven innings.
Game One:

• Freshman designated hitter Troy Stukenberg (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township), freshman infielder John Simecek (Twinsburg, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and junior infielder Konner Hutchings (O'Fallon, Mo./St. Charles CC/Liberty) each went 1-for-3 for the Cougars.
• Junior pitcher Nico Saldias (Ajax, Ontario/Connors State/Pickering) took the loss (1-3) after leaving the game with injury. He allowed a run, a walk and a single.
• Sophomore pitcher Heath Mann (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) tossed 3.0 innings of relief with five hits given up, two runs, two walks and a strikeout.
• Senior pitcher Tzu-Chun Yen (Kaohsiung, Taiwan/Ohlone/Meiho) worked 2.0 innings with just one hit and a run.
• Sophomore pitcher Osvaldo Ballesteros Jr. (Berwyn, Ill./St. Laurence) pitched 2.0 innings as well, allowing a hit, a run and a walk.
• SAU hit an RBI ground-rule double in the top of the 1^st, the run charged to Saldias, with two outs to go up 1-0.
• St. Ambrose added two runs in the top of the 3^rd on an RBI groundout and an RBI double.
• The Fighting Bees tacked on a run via a sacrifice fly in the top of the 5^th and a solo home run in the top of the 7^th.

Game Two:

• Moore was 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot with three stolen bases, two runs and an RBI.
• Altobelli had two hits in three at-bats after entering the game as a pinch-hitter.
• Stukenberg went 1-for-2 with an RBI sac fly.
• Junior outfielder Justin Massingale (Carbondale, Ill./St. Charles CC/Carbondale Community) doubled in three trips to the plate with two walks, a double and a run scored.
• Sophomore utility/courtesy runner Gannon Burns (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) swiped three bases.
• Senior pitcher Julian Vargas (Tinley Park, Ill./Tinley Park) was tough on the mound, throwing 7.2 innings and scattering six hits with one run and two strikeouts, but settled for the no decision.
• Senior pitcher Jimmy Fairley (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Rock Valley/Huntley) faced one batter in the top of the 8^th and induced a fly-out.
• Senior pitcher Max Smyth (Tinley Park, Ill./Illinois Central/Andrew) came away with the win (2-0) after he threw an inning with one hit, two runs, three walks and a pair of strikeouts.
• Simecek drew a walk with the bases loaded to pick up an RBI and give SXU a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1^st.
• Moore lined an RBI single to center to extend the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the 4^th.
• SAU got on the board in the top of the 5^th with an RBI sacrifice fly.
• Stukenberg lifted a sac fly to right to put Saint Xavier up 3-1 in the bottom of the 7^th.
• A wild pitch and a fielder's choice allowed St. Ambrose to tie the game in the top of the 9^th.
• In the home half of the inning, Moore legged out an infield single and he stole second base, Massingale walked and Altobelli followed with the game-winning hit.

Saint Xavier (13-12/6-2 CCAC) is scheduled to conclude the four-game series with St. Ambrose with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 23. Game one is slated for a 1:00 pm first pitch in Davenport, Iowa.