Last weekend, St. X Baseball took on a major challenge as they faced off against the top-ranked team in Illinois, Providence Catholic. The two teams were originally slated to play on both Thursday, April 10, and Saturday, April 12. However, due to inclement weather, Thursday’s matchup was postponed and rescheduled as part of a Saturday doubleheader, setting the stage for a full day of high-stakes baseball.
The Tigers opened the day with a tough loss in Game 1, falling 12–6 to a powerful Providence offense. Despite some bright moments at the plate, St. X struggled to contain the Celtics’ bats and couldn’t climb out of an early deficit.
St. X bounced back in Game two with focus and energy. The tone was set early by Brodie Benefield, who delivered a dominant performance on the mound. The junior right-hander was nearly untouchable, pitching six scoreless innings of one-hit baseball while striking out eight. His composure and control kept the Celtics off balance all game long and gave the Tigers the stability they needed to respond.
Offensively, St. X capitalized on timely hitting. Jackson Allen came through in the second inning with a clutch two-out RBI single to give the Tigers the lead. In the fourth, Jakob Reed manufactured a crucial insurance run, scoring on a wild pitch to push the lead to 2–0. Then, in the fifth, Danny Jaso delivered another key two-out RBI to extend the cushion to 3–0.
Providence Catholic threatened in the seventh, managing to plate a run and get the tying run to the first, but Colton Zuege came in from the bullpen and shut the door. Zuege recorded the final outs to seal the 3–1 victory and earn the save.
The bounce-back effort against such a high-caliber opponent speaks volumes about the character and potential of this St. X squad as they continue their spring campaign. This week the Tigers look to take on DeSales Colts, Male Bulldogs, and Floyd Central Highlanders of Indiana.
