CHICAGO – The Saint Xavier University baseball team (17-16/10-6 CCAC) split its doubleheader with Roosevelt University (Ill.) in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action at Richard R. Ferrell Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. Fifth-year senior designated hitter Evan Orzech (Shorewood, Ill./Crossroads Christian Academy) slugged a two-run home run in game one, however the Cougars came up short in a 6-3 setback. Orzech clubbed a double to start the bottom of the 8^th in game two and he was lifted for a pinch runner, that runner would cross plate on an error for the go-ahead run, and senior pitcher Max Smyth (Tinley Park, Ill./Illinois Central/Andrew) pitched the 9^th to earn his second save of the season in a 3-2 victory.

Before the game, Saint Xavier recognized the family of Richard R. Ferrell, whom the baseball field was named for in 1977 after his tragic passing. Ferrell's great nephew, Declan Dur, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Game One:

• Orzech finished 2-for-3 in the contest.
• Freshman infielder John Simecek (Twinsburg, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
• Junior outfielder Sean Moore (Chicago, Ill./Calumet St. Joseph/Thornwood) collected two hits in four at-bats, along with two stolen bases and a run scored.
• Junior outfielder Justin Massingale (Carbondale, Ill./St. Charles CC/Carbondale Community) was 1-for-3 with a double.
• Junior pitcher Logan McCleery (Patterson, Calif./Patterson) took the loss (3-4) after pitching 5.2 innings with six hits allowed, four runs (all earned), four walks and four strikeouts.
• Senior pitcher Jimmy Fairley (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Rock Valley/Huntley) worked 1.1 innings out of the bullpen, allowing one hit, two runs (both unearned) and walking two batters.
• Orzech belted his fifth home run of the 2024 campaign in the bottom of the 1^st for an early 2-0 lead after Moore reached base with a leadoff single.
• The Lakers rallied for three runs in the top of the 4^th on a two-run single and a sacrifice fly to go up 3-2.
• Simicek tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single.
• An RBI base hit by RU in the top of the 6^th put them back up 4-3 and they added a pair of unearned runs in the top of the 7^th off an error.

Game Two:

• Orzech again finished 2-for-3, this time hitting a double and drawing a walk.
• Massingale tallied an RBI and went 1-for-4.
• Freshman catcher Victor Zaragoza (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) doubled and was 1-for-2.
• Junior infielder Mason Johnson (Palmdale, Calif./Antelope Valley/Quartz Hill) also doubled while going 2-for-3 at the plate.
• Senior pitcher Julian Vargas (Tinley Park, Ill./Tinley Park) started the game and finished with a no decision after tossing 7.0 innings while scattering four hits, two runs (both unearned), two walks and striking out three batters.
• Junior pitcher Logan Antrim (Effingham, Ill./Lincoln Land/St. Anthony) picked up the win in relief (1-0), after posting a clean sheet in the top of the 8^th.
• Smyth had a final line of 1.0 inning with a walk and a strikeout.
• An error off the bat of Massingale allowed Moore to score from first base to give Saint Xavier a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1^st.
• Roosevelt would tie the game in the top of the 4^th on a throwing error.
• Massingale broke the 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the 5^th.
• The Lakers retied the game in the top of the 6^th off another SXU miscue.
• After Orzech's double, sophomore pinch runner Ryan O'Farrell (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) advanced to third on a groundout and he scored on a two-out error a batter later.
• Smyth issued a walk to start the top of the 9^th, however he left the tying run stranded after a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout and a groundout ended the game.

Saint Xavier (17-16/10-6 CCAC) concludes its series with Roosevelt on Saturday, April 6 with CCAC doubleheader at Ozinga Field in Crestwood, Ill. Game one is scheduled for a 1:00 pm first pitch.