Knights host Xavier on Alumni Game Day

KNIGHTS HOST XAVIER IN ALUMNI GAME DAY SHOWDOWN

SUNO rides Wiley series win into Tuesday home tilt; SUNO Alumni Association hosts Alumni Game Day | Tickets $10 at the gate

SUNO KNIGHTS

CATEGORY

XAVIER GOLD RUSH

12-11

Overall Record

4-24

7-7

Conference Record

2-16

.260

Team Batting AVG

.204

127 (23 G)

Runs Scored

75 (28 G)

.362

Slugging %

.270

101

Walks Drawn

93

37-48

Stolen Bases (ATT)

31-38

6.71

Team ERA

10.06

.294

Opp. Batting AVG

.329

109

Strikeouts (Pitching)

173

#16 KYLER SHEPHERD

.338 AVG │ 23 H │ 9 SB │ 18 BB │ 1 HR

Shepherd leads SUNO with a .338 average, 23 hits, and 18 walks — giving him elite on-base ability in front of the team's run producers. His 9 stolen bases on 14 attempts keep defenses honest. Against a Xavier staff allowing a .329 opponent average, Shepherd is primed for a big night.

#1 COHEN BOYD

.351 AVG │ 33 H │ 8 2B │ 2 HR │ 14 RBI

Boyd is Xavier's best hitter, batting .351 with a .413 OBP, 33 hits, and 14 RBI. He also plays errorless defense in the outfield. SUNO's pitchers need to be sharp against Boyd — he punishes mistakes and has a .543 slugging percentage.

#7 DYLAN JIMENEZ

.328 AVG │ 19 H │ 2 HR │ 14 RBI

Jimenez leads the team in RBI with 14 and is one of SUNO's most reliable run producers. He also contributes on the mound with a 3-1 pitching record. His ability to deliver in big moments from the middle of the order is central to SUNO's offense.

#3 LAWRENCE STEED

.313 AVG │ 20 H │ 5 SB │ 8 BB

Steed is Xavier's most versatile threat — batting .313 with a .429 OBP and contributing both at the plate and on the basepaths with 5 stolen bases. SUNO must keep tabs on him as a potential table-setter at the top of Xavier's order.

#2 ENRIQUE HERAZO, JR.

.311 AVG │ 14 H │ 5 BB │ 3 RBI

Herazo is batting .311 in 18 starts and provides steady contact hitting from the middle of the lineup. His ability to put the ball in play and drive runners home gives the Knights a reliable option behind Jimenez and Shepherd.

#5 JAYDEN SMITH

.276 AVG │ 21 H │ 6 2B │ 10 RBI

Smith is Xavier's most consistent run producer alongside Boyd, driving in 10 runs while batting .276 with a .380 OBP. He has played every game this season and provides above-average defense in the field. Allowing him to hit with runners on base is a risk for SUNO.

#40 CHRISTOPHER NUNEZ

4.89 ERA │ 2-2 │ 38.2 IP │ 34 K │ 3 CG

Nunez is SUNO's ace and workhorse. He has thrown three complete games in seven starts, leads the staff with 34 strikeouts, and gives the Knights the best chance of keeping this game manageable. If he's sharp Tuesday, SUNO controls the game.

#23 CHAD McKENZIE

13.31 ERA │ 0-6 │ 23.2 IP │ 33 K │ 36 BB

McKenzie is Xavier's most-used starter and brings real arm talent to the mound — his 33 strikeouts in 23.2 innings show he can generate swings and misses. He also issues walks at a high rate (36 in 23.2 IP), so SUNO's patient lineup should work deep counts and take advantage of every opportunity to get on base.

Cohen Boyd Is a Problem

Xavier's .204 team average doesn't reflect the danger their best hitter presents. Boyd is batting .351 with a .543 slugging percentage and is errorless defensively. SUNO's pitchers cannot groove pitches to Boyd — treat him like the legitimate threat he is and work around him if necessary.

Xavier Will Play Loose and Competitive

Xavier is a team that will compete freely and play with confidence regardless of their record. SUNO must come out sharp from the first pitch, set the tone early, and make a statement at home in front of the Alumni Game Day crowd.

Xavier's Pitchers Have Swing-and-Miss Stuff

Pitchers like Chad McKenzie (33 K in 23.2 IP) and Nate Babin (14 K in 21.2 IP) show they can generate strikeouts. SUNO must stay disciplined at the plate, work deep counts, and not let Xavier's arms surprise them with chase pitches.

01

Feed the Bottom of Xavier's Order

Xavier's pitching staff has allowed 206 walks this season — 7.36 per game. SUNO's patient hitters, led by Shepherd (18 BB) and Soto (11 BB), should work counts and draw walks to build baserunners before Xavier's starters settle in. Free runners will be there — take them.

02

Let Nunez Eat Innings

SUNO's bullpen has been stretched in a three-game series. Tuesday's game is an opportunity to let Christopher Nunez take the ball and go deep, preserving the rest of the staff. A complete game or near-complete game from Nunez would be ideal ahead of the rest of the conference schedule.

03

Stay Hot at the Plate After the Wiley Series

SUNO scored 11 runs combined in Games 2 and 3 of the Wiley series. The offense has momentum, and the bats need to carry over. With Xavier allowing a .329 opponent batting average, the Knights should get plenty of opportunities to hit. Don't overcomplicate it — be aggressive early in counts and put balls in play.

04

Use the Alumni Game Day Energy

Tuesday's game is more than a conference matchup — it's a celebration of the SUNO community. The Alumni Association hosting Alumni Game Day means the crowd will be invested and vocal. Use that energy. Play for the fans, play for the alumni, play to show what this program is building.

Alumni Night. Home Field. A Team in Form.

SUNO arrives Tuesday night at 12-11 — a team that has shown all season it knows how to win series. The Knights earned back-to-back wins against Wiley with strong, competitive baseball. Now they have a home matchup in front of their alumni community, with a real opportunity to push their overall record above .500.

SUNO's offense has been producing, and with Xavier's pitching staff having allowed 288 runs across 28 games, the Knights have every reason to come to the plate with confidence. Kyler Shepherd, Dylan Jimenez, and Enrique Herazo Jr. are all hitting above .300. The lineup is clicking.

The key is Christopher Nunez. When Nunez takes the mound and goes deep, SUNO wins. His 34 strikeouts and three complete games make him the best pitcher on either side of this matchup. If the offense supports him early and the defense plays clean baseball, the Knights can walk away with a statement win on Alumni Night.

SUNO Knights baseball is trending up — and Tuesday night at Wesley Barrow Stadium, in front of their alumni and their community, is a chance to prove it. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Come out and be part of it.