Post by chinmusic on Feb 23, 2022 22:15:34 GMT -8
The Xavier University baseball team is off to a disappointing 0-4 start in 2022 after losing a 3 game series to Alabama in Tuscaloosa, The Musketeers lost 5-4, 9-4 and 5-4 again, stopping off on their way back to Cincinnati to lose another 1 run game, a 7-6 loss to Louisville. Last year Xavier finished their season with a 28-26 record and 15-11 in the Big East Conference. The 2022 season will be challenging for Head Coach Billy O’Conner as he seeks to replace several top hitters and rebuilds the front end of the Musketeer pitching staff.
HITTING:
In 2022, Xavier's offense has been slow in starting with a team slash line of .227/ .314/ .390. Their two bright spots offensively have been the signs of some power with 5 doubles and 6 home runs, and a perfect 9 for 9 in stolen base attempts. Strikeouts have been frequent with 48 K’s in 4 games. Comparatively in 2021, Xavier finished with a slash line of .251/ .359/ .404 and 53 home runs.
Xavier’s offense has been carried by 3 hitters starting with their best stick, OF Andrew Walker. Walker is .467/ .556/ .533 in 18 AB’s with a double, 3 BB, 3RBI and 1 SB. In 2021, Walker was .316/ .407/ .493 with 5 HR and 18 out of 19 attempted stolen bases in 47 games for Xavier. He can run. He’s a 5-11, 180 Senior from Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic HS.
IF Luke Franzoni, Sr. 6-2, 220 from Robbinsville, N.J. is .389/ .421/ .722 through 4 games. He has hit 2 HR’s with 3 RBI but has struck out 7 times in his 18 at bats. In 2021 he posted .279/ .392/ .566 in 42 games with 9 homers. He struck out 51 times in 129 at bats. F
Jack Housinger 5-9, 175 Sr. from Hawthorne Woods, IL.-Stevenson HS is at .357/ .526/ .535 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 4 RBI, 3BB, 2 HBP, 1 SB and has struck out 8 times in his 20 plate appearances. In 2021, Housinger put up .297/ .437/ .480 in 50 games. He struck out 43 times in 175 at bats. Once you get past these three hitters, Xavier’s batting order drops to these batting averages. .188, .182, .178, .154, and 0.91. That lower part of the order is 11-58. Only two of those hitters payed last year and they hit .221 and .235 over a full season.
PITCHING:
Xavier returns several pitchers from the 2021 staff but only one front line starter and a closer. Their stat line for 2022 through 4 games is indicative of a team that has been touched up by both Alabama and Louisville. Xavier pitching to date; In 32 IP, 26 runs/ 40 hits/ 21 BB+4HB/ 30K’s/ OPBA .317./ 1.91 WHIP/ 6.75 ERA. In 2021, in 442 IP, Xavier allowed 238 runs on 443 hits, 249 BB, 58 HBP, 411 K’s, and an OpBA of .260, with a 4.85 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.
The top returning starter is Grad Student Trevor Olson (lefty). He’s 6-6, 240 from Chippewa Falls,WI. In one start and 5 IP, Olson allowed 1 run, 3 hits, walked 3, K’d 2, 1.80 WHIP and an ERA of 1.80. Last year in 2021, Olson was 5-3/ 2.97 ERA/ 1.12 WHIP/ 50 K/ 18 BB in 63 IP. We should see Olson in Game 1.
RH George Eisenhart is 6-4, 205 Fr. From Lake Oswego, OR. - Lakeridge HS. Has 1 start, 2 1/3 IP/ 5 Runs/ 5 Hits/ 4BB/ 1 HBP/ 4K/ 2 WP/ 3.86 WHIP/ 19.29 ERA.
RH Luke Haskins is 6-4, 175 Fr. From Arvada, CO. Has 1 start, 2 1/3 IP/ 1 R/ 2 H/ 2K/ 3 HBP/ 3.86 ERA/ .86 WHIP.
Bryce Barnett is 6’ 180 Jr. from Lockport, IL. Made 1 start, 1 2/3 IP/ 4R/ 7H/ 1 BB/ 2 K/ 21.60 ERA/ 4.80 WHIP
Xavier pitching performance this season has been characterized by low inning starts and somewhat better results from the bullpen. That will improve as the staff settles in and they put a difficult first 7 games behind them. Xavier is a work in progress, both at bat and on the mound.
