The Xavier Musketeers baseball team delivered a statement win on Friday, May 1, stunning No. 3 Georgia Tech with an 8-4 extra-inning victory in Atlanta. The win, which came on the road at Mac Nease Baseball Park, marked a major upset for a Xavier squad that entered the night ranked No. 92 in RPI and sitting at 21-25 overall.
The Musketeers, now 22-25, showed their resilience by snapping Georgia Tech's impressive 13-game home winning streak. The Yellow Jackets had been on a tear, winning six straight and 19 of their last 21 games before running into a determined Xavier team. This victory also represented Xavier's first win over a top-5 program since March 2024, when they beat No. 2 LSU, and improved their all-time record against Georgia Tech to 2-7.
The game's defining moment came in the top of the 10th inning with two outs on the board. Freshman Carter Christenson, a Moeller High School product, stepped to the plate for his only at-bat of the game and launched a three-run homer down the left field line—his first career home run. The blast gave Xavier a 7-4 lead and sent the Musketeers' dugout into a frenzy. Donavan Canterberry followed two batters later with an RBI single that scored Tanner Thomas, providing crucial insurance.
On the mound, Michael Murphy was the unsung hero, tossing 6⅓ innings of two-run ball out of the bullpen. He allowed nine hits but walked none and struck out six, all while facing a Georgia Tech offense that leads the nation in runs per game at 10.5. Eight different Musketeers contributed hits in the win, showcasing the depth of the lineup.
The victory pushed Xavier up 19 spots in RPI and marked their fifth Quad 1 win of the season. The Musketeers currently sit fourth in the Big East standings behind UConn, St. John's, and Creighton, with the Big East Tournament set for May 20-23 at Prasco Park in Mason. Xavier will continue their series against Georgia Tech over the weekend before hosting Michigan at Hayden Field on Tuesday, May 5, and closing the regular season with series against Butler and at home.