Charleston, Ill. – Freshman infielder
Troy Stukenberg (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) belted his fifth home run of the season and drove in his team-leading 40
th and 41
st RBI to help lead the Saint Xavier University baseball team (25-19/17-9 CCAC) to a 4-2 non-conference victory over NCAA Division I Eastern Illinois University at Coaches Stadium in Charleston, Ill. Wednesday afternoon. With the win, SXU has won two in a row and five of their last six contests. It was the first victory for the Cougars over the Panthers since May 4, 2005, a 7-4 decision, and it evens the all-time series at three wins for each program dating back to their first game in 1991.
- Stukenberg finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk.
- Junior outfielder Sean Moore (Chicago, Ill./Calumet St. Joseph/Thornwood) had two hits in four at-bats with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
- Junior outfielder Michael Flier (Greenup, Ill./Spoon River/Cumberland) went 2-for-4 with a run.
- Junior infielder Mason Johnson (Palmdale, Calif./Antelope Valley/Quartz Hill) was 1-for-4.
- Junior pitcher Logan McCleery (Patterson, Calif./Patterson) made the start and went 3.0 innings, allowing two hits, two earned runs, two walks and striking out three batters.
- Junior pitcher Logan Antrim (Effingham, Ill./Lincoln Land/St. Anthony) picked up the win in relief (3-0) after working 2.0 innings with one hit, one walk and two strikeouts.
- Junior pitcher/infielder Sebastian Parchomenko (Algonquin, Ill./Southwest Mississippi/Dundee Crown) pitched 1.1 innings out of the bullpen with two hits given up, a walk and three strikeouts.
- Senior pitcher Max Smyth (Tinley Park, Ill./Illinois Central/Andrew) worked 1.2 innings and allowed one base-runner on a walk.
- Sophomore pitcher Heath Mann (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) earned his first save of the year with one hit, one walk and one strikeout.
- Stukenberg broke a scoreless tie in the top of the 3rd, launching a two-run home run to center.
- Eastern Illinois tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame with a two-run home run over the wall in left center.
- Moore legged out a ground ball to avoid a potential double play in the top of the 5th. He then stole second and third base and scored when junior outfielder Justin Massingale (Carbondale, Ill./St. Charles CC/Carbondale Community) reached base via an RBI error to put Saint Xavier up 3-2.
- In the top of the 7th, Moore drove in an insurance run after he lined an RBI single back up the middle.
- Mann came in to close out the game in the bottom of the 9th. He hit the first batter and EIU got the tying run aboard with a base hit. The next batter was called out on interference and fouled out to Johnson. Mann induced a flyout, however both runners tagged up to get the tying run in scoring position. The next batter was intentionally walked to set up a force at any base but Mann got a swinging strikeout to end the contest.
Saint Xavier (25-19/17-9 CCAC) returns to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action with a doubleheader at Olivet Nazarene University on Tuesday, April 23. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1:00 pm.