Leavenworth, Kan. – Sophomore infielder Noah Dreier (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth with a two-run double to help guide the Saint Xavier University baseball team (1-0/0-0 CCAC) to a 7-1 victory over University of Saint Mary (Kan.) in the season opener for both programs Friday afternoon in Leavenworth, Kan. Dreier finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk. Graduate student pitcher Jimmy Fairley (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Rock Valley/Huntley) made the start, working 5.0 innings and allowing just two hits with a strikeout to pick up the win.

• Graduate student infielder Taylor Steig (Corona, Calif./Olivet Nazarene/Redwoods/Santiago) went 3-for-5 in his debut with the Cougars, driving in a run along with a double.
• Sophomore designated hitter John Simecek (Twinsburg, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) collected two hits in four at-bats, drawing a walk, stealing a base and scoring a run.
• Junior outfielder Shea Zbrozek (Bloomington, Ill./Danville Area/Normal Community) was 2-for-3 in his SXU debut, posting an RBI and a walk.
• Sophomore infielder Troy Stukenberg (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) drew three walks, finished 1-for-2 at the plate, and he had an RBI and a run scored.
• Senior outfielder Sean Moore (Chicago, Ill./Calumet St. Joseph/Thornwood) had two hits in three at-bats, stealing three bases, scoring a run and drawing a walk.
• Graduate student pinch hitter Gabe Kirck (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Olivet/De La Salle) made the most of his lone at-bat, slugging a two-run home run.
• Junior pitcher Trent Markezich (Mount Olive, Ill./Mount Olive) earned the save after pitching 4.0 innings of relief and allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts.
• Saint Mary scored in the bottom of the second on an RBI double to take the early lead.
• Zbrozek tied the game in the top of the fifth after Moore drew a leadoff walk and stealing two bases.
• Dreier split the gap in right center field to give Saint Xavier a 3-1 advantage in the top of the sixth.
• Stukenberg lined an RBI single to left field to push the lead to 4-1 in the top of the seventh.
• In the top of the eighth, Kirck extended the lead to 6-1 for the Cougar, belting a two-run home run.
• Steig capped the scoring in the top of the ninth, driving in a run on an RBI groundout.

Saint Xavier (1-0/0-0 CCAC) continues its series with University of Saint Mary, playing a doubleheader on Saturday, February 1. Game one is scheduled for 12:00 pm with game two slated to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.