MASON − Exactly one year since Xavier’s last trip to the Big East Tournament came to an end, the Musketeers suffered a similar fate after a 7-4 loss to Creighton in an elimination game at Prasco Park on Saturday, May 23.
After a rainy Friday that pushed all second-round games back to the weekend, Xavier entered the day needing just one win in two tries to reach the Big East Tournament Championship.
Xavier was on the ropes after a 17-6 loss to top-seeded St. John’s in the afternoon and couldn’t string together enough offense in a loss to the Bluejays.
Xavier’s season ends at 28-30.
“Proud of the way they competed. We overcome a lot this year. There was a lot of adversity,” Xavier head coach Billy O’Conner said. “Some things within our control, some things out of our control. It could have gone really, really sideways.”
There will be no agonizing wait on the NCAA Tournament bubble heading into the Selection Show on Monday, May 25. Xavier had the league’s top RPI this season, but it won’t be high enough to make the Big East a two-bid conference.
“We were 9-20 and things weren’t going well. I think it just shows the character of that group to keep playing hard,” O’Conner said. “To come back and share a regular season championship and do the things that we did. Is this the greatest year in the history of our program? It’s not. This is the year we’ve probably overcome the most to have a solid year.”
In a do-or-die contest, Xavier had a 1-0 lead after four innings after a solo homer by catcher Jonathan Fitz and solid work on the mound by junior Michael Murphy.
Murphy, a former Mason High School standout, had not pitched his first two years of college and was coming off an injury. In just his second start of the season, Murphy logged career-highs in strikeouts (7) and pitches (101) with Xavier’s season on the line.
“His (Murphy’s) role continued to grow all year. He continued to get more comfortable. His confidence was growing every time he came out here,” O’Conner said. “For him to keep working and to see the payoff, it’s awesome. It’s what you hope for and dream of as a coach.”
Creighton eventually tied it 1-1 on a solo homer by leadoff man Rocco Gump to begin the fifth inning. In the sixth, Murphy exited with one out and two runners on. Both inherited runners would score after Creighton’s Nick Venteicher ripped a go-ahead single and Gump launched a momentous three-run homer to right field to put the Bluejays ahead 5-1.
Xavier baseball’s Big East Tournament rally comes up short in season-ending loss to Creighton
Down to its final 12 outs and facing a four-run deficit, Xavier slowly chipped into the lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the table was set by leadoff man Jorge Valdes, who singled and came around to score two batters later on a Luke Hammond single.
Patience then paid off for Xavier as Creighton pitching walked three consecutive hitters. Bases-loaded RBI walks from Peter Johnson and Tanner Thomas made it a one-run game. Xavier shortstop Donovan Canterberry would strike out to end the frame.
Creighton added pivotal insurance runs in seventh on a homer by shortstop Ben North and another RBI single by Venteicher to make it 7-4.
Over the final three innings, Xavier’s lone baserunner came on a two-out single by Josh Stonehouse in the seventh. Creighton reliever Shea Wendt retired all six Musketeers he faced over the final two innings to record the save and send the Bluejays to Sunday’s championship against St. John’s.
“I knew we’d come out and play hard. We just weren’t really good offensively today. That’s what caught up to us a little bit. There was never any doubt about competing,” O’Conner said. “Even when they (Creighton) took the lead, we came back with three to make it a ball game. I never doubt the heart of this group at all.
“Proud of the way they competed. They represented us and the school the right way. I’m just lucky to be able to coach them.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier suffers season-ending loss to Creighton in Big East Tournament