PNW Snags #4 Seed; Takes On #5 Seed SXU in CCAC Opener Friday

HAMMOND, Ind. & WESTVILLE, Ind. – The Purdue University Northwest baseball team will face off with Saint Xavier University in the opening round of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament Friday, May 5, at 10:30 a.m. (CT).

The No. 4 seed Pride (29-16) will take on the No. 5 seeded Cougars (25-27) at Judson University’s Hoffer Field in Elgin, Ill.

 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, May 5, 2017
Game #1: No. 5 seed Saint Xavier (25-27) vs. No. 4 seed Purdue Northwest (29-16) — 10:30 am
Game #2: No. 6 seed Robert Morris Ill. (26-25) vs. No. 3 seed St. Ambrose (24-23) — 1:30 pm
Game #3: No. 7 seed St. Francis (30-24) vs. No. 2 seed Olivet Nazarene (31-17) — 4:30 pm
Game #4: No. 8 seed Indiana South Bend (22-24) vs. No. 1 seed Judson (37-16) — 7:30 pm

 Saturday, May 6, 2017
Game #5: Winner-Game #2 vs. Winner-Game #3 — 10:30 am
Game #6: Winner-Game #1 vs. Winner-Game #4 — 1:30 pm
Game #7: Loser-Game #1 vs. Loser-Game #4 — 4:30 pm
Game #8: Loser-Game #2 vs. Loser-Game #3 — 7:30 pm

Monday, May 8, 2017
Game #9: Winner-Game #5 vs. Winner-Game #6 — 10:30 am
Game #10: Loser-Game #5 vs. Winner-Game #7 — 1:30 pm
Game #11: Loser-Game #6 vs. Winner-Game #8 — 4:30 pm
Game #12: Winner-Game #10 vs. Winner-Game #11 — 7:30 pm

Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Game #13: Loser-Game #9 vs. Winner-Game #12 — 4:30 pm
Game #14: Winner-Game #9 vs. Winner-Game #13 — 7:30 pm (Championship)

Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Game #15: Winner-Game #14 vs. Loser-Game #14 — 7 pm (If necessary)

TOURNAMENT INFO/LIVE LINKS
Host Judson has set up a Tournament Central home page with game information and more located here: http://www.judsoneagles.com/article/3190.php

Live Video/Stats can be found here: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ccac/

Complete bracket can be found at http://www.ccacsports.com/d/2017_CCAC_BB_Tournament_Bracket.pdf

LAST TIME OUT
The Purdue University Northwest baseball team wrapped up its regular season with a 6-3 victory over Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent St. Francis (Ill.) May 2.

The Pride (29-16, 20-7 CCAC) were led by Avondre Harris (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) led the Black and Gold with three hits and two runs scored while Tyler Kenjic (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) recorded a pair of hits with a trio of RBI and one run scored.

Alex Batistatos (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) picked up his second win of the season after throwing seven scoreless innings, scattering five hits while striking out five.

Fabian Del Real (Calumet City, Ill./T.F. North) came in relief and pitched one inning while allowing one run and Brody Kutch (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) would finish off the game, allowing two runs in one inning to close things out for the Pride.

PRIDE LEADERS
The Pride are led at the plate by Larry Crisler (Gary, Ind./Bishop Noll), who is hitting .357, with 50 hits, two home runs and 25 RBI. On the mound, PNW is led by Matt Sandoval who owns an 8-1 record with a 1.48 ERA, two saves and 66 strikeouts in 61.0 innings pitched.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Matt Monahan leads SXU with a .381 batting average with 38 RBI and three home runs while Alex Neufeld ranks second on the team with a .342 batting average, 45 runs scored and 19 RBI. On the mound, the Cougars are led by Tyler Hebel, who owns a 5-5 record with a 2.18 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 66.0 innings pitched.