Gold Rush sweeps Tougaloo College in Season Opener

February 27, 2024

By Alexander Arnold, Sports Writer

In a triumphant start to their fourth season, the Gold Rush secured a three-game series sweep against Tougaloo College. Xavier’s dominant offensive display led to two victories on Friday, Feb. 2, and one on Saturday, Feb. 3.

On Friday, the Gold Rush showcased exceptional hitting performances from Deionte Norris, Robert Robinson, and Zion Morris, combining for 5 Runs Batted Ins. Senior, Deionte Norris continued his offensive tenure with a home run, emphasizing his focus on consistency at the plate.

“I’ve been striving for more consistency,” Norris said. “I’ve been too streaky in the past and want to improve,” he added.

On the defensive front, senior, right-handed pitcher Kimani Davis held the Bulldogs in check, pitching 4 innings with 7 strikeouts and only surrendering one hit. Davis emphasized his approach on the mound.

“My main focus was to get the first-pitch strike and fill the zone up. Make them put the ball in play and trust my teammates behind to make the plays,” Davis said.

In game two, Nunez Community College transfer, Hunter Wheaton, delivered another stellar pitching performance allowing only one earned run over 5 innings. Alex Crews, another Nunez Community College transfer, ignited the Gold Rush’s offense early with a double, while junior right fielder Zion Morris contributed an RBI in the 4th inning. A 6th inning homer from senior catcher Skyler Roberts bolstered the lead, with Miles Peterson and Cohen Boyd adding the final runs to secure a 7-1 victory.

“We focused on doing our jobs at the plate and getting guys on base and driving them in,” said graduate assistant Zachary Elias, who highlighted the team’s approach on how the Gold Rush plan to be successful this season. “We simplified the game so we could play our brand of baseball,” Elias added.

Game 3 saw Xavier’s offense erupt with four home runs despite harsh weather conditions. Even in the face of cold air and rain, the Gold Rush tallied 16 hits. Alex Crews initiated the offense with a home run, while the 6th inning witnessed 3-run homers from Deionte Norris and Miles Peterson, capitalizing on errors made by the Bulldogs. Calabe Collins added the final home run to seal the 16-11 victory. Head Coach Adrian Holloway expressed satisfaction with the team’s strong start, emphasizing the importance of confidence and rhythm.

“It’s always good to have a strong start to build confidence and get into a rhythm. We hit the ball well, pitchers were efficient, Kimani Davis, Colby Henderson, and Alex Arnold are returning pitchers that we are depending on this season. We competed well as a team. If we stick to our plans and execute well, we can be a tough team to beat,” Holloway said.