The Saint Xavier women’s softball team dropped both games in their double-header against Judson University. They lost the first game 7-3 and lost game two 5-3.
They did not get another crack at righting the ship as the unpredictable Chicago weather forced their games against Trinity International University and Saint Ambrose University to be postponed.
The Cougars fell behind early in game one as a combination of small ball and sloppy play led to three runs for the opponent.
Saint Xavier came back in the third inning as left-fielder, Kaylie Zych, led off the inning with her second home run of the season. Frankie Demack walked and Alexandra Maguire followed things up with a single. Maguire then stole second and Saint Xavier had women on second and third with nobody out.
Lexxie Lux then hit a sac fly to left field to drive in Demack and pull her team to within one. After a fly out by Tori Keilman, Taylor Sterkowitz walked. Tori Williams then hit a single to left to drive in Maguire and even things up at three.
The score remained tied until the fifth. After a walk and sac bunt, Judson’s Lindsay Zdroik singled to center to drive in the go-ahead run. A double to center drove in pinch runner, Alexis Ruger, and Saint Xavier now trailed by two. Judson added two more insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Cougars tried to mount a comeback in the seventh as Lux and Keilman had back-to-back singles to put women on first and third with only one away. After a groundout, Williams walked and Saint Xavier had bases loaded with two outs, but they were unable to do any damage as Amanda Ruskowsky popped up to second to end the game. Judson took game one, 7-3.
Game two looked like a carbon copy of the first as Judson once again pulled out to an early 3-0 lead. Saint Xavier were unable to put the Eagles away as all three of their runs in the first came when there were two away.
After two quick outs in the second, Judson University’s Stefancic reached on a throwing error by Allison Golic. Back-to-back singles drove in Stefancic and the Eagles were up 4-0.
Saint Xavier would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the third inning. McGuire led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. McGuire advanced to third on a groundout by Lux and scored on a bunt by Zych. They would threaten to add more, but ultimately, had to settle for one.
Judson quickly got that run back in the top of the the fourth as Skye Osborne singled to drive in Elizabeth Gagnon who led off the inning with a double. The Eagles now had a 5-1 lead.
The Cougars cut into Judson’s lead in the fifth. Lux singled to left with one out. Kielman then hit a two-run home run to drive in Lux. Her home run brought her team to within two.
Saint Xavier kept Judson quiet the next two innings. However, Judson did the same. Any hopes of a comeback were silenced as the Cougars went down quietly in the bottom of the seventh. The Eagles took game two, 5-3.
The Cougars did not do themselves any favors as they found themselves down early in both games. The offense tried to get them back into it but those deficits proved difficult to overcome. The team showed fight, but came up short both times.
As mentioned, their games against Trinity and Saint Ambrose were postponed due to rain. Saint Xavier now have an overall record of 14-10 (5-6 in conference play). Weather permitting, their next game will be on the road against Cardinal Stritch University.
Ernesto Hernandez
Sports Editor