Saint Xavier’s women’s softball team bounced back nicely in their second doubleheader in as many days by taking both games against Saint Ambrose University. They won the first game 9-1 in five innings and won the second 4-3.
Saint Ambrose opened the score early as Logan Frerichs walked with one out and scored on a triple by Christina Pembrook, but Saint Xavier would respond in their half of the inning.
Tori Williams and Lexxie Lux both singled and Saint Xavier had runners on first and third with only one out. Tori Keilman kept the line moving and singled to right to drive in Williams and tie the game at one. The Cougars threatened to add more, but were only able to score once.
After a scoreless top of the second, Saint Xavier would put up a crooked number in the bottom half of the inning. Nicole O’Donnell started things off with a single.
Frankie Demack tried to bunt her over and a throwing error by Saint Ambrose put runners on first and third with no outs. Williams singled to left to drive in O’Donnell. Lux followed up with a double to center to drive in Demack.
Saint Ambrose made a series of changes on the field to try to stop the Saint Xavier rally, but Taylor Sterkowitz would have none of it and she promptly singled to center. Sterkowitz’s single scored both runners as Saint Ambrose’s defense threw the ball all over the field. The Cougars scored four runs on four hits and led 5-1.
Saint Xavier followed up their four-run second by scoring another four runs in the third. The top of the line-up continued to do damage as McGuire, Williams, Lux, and Sterkowitz all record RBIs in the inning. The Cougars had a commanding 9-1 lead through three innings.
The rest of the game was uneventful as Saint Xavier went on to win a mercy-rule shortened game.
The second game of the doubleheader was a much closer affair. As they did in the first game, Saint Ambrose pulled ahead early by scoring a run during the top of the first inning. The score remained the same until the top of the fifth inning when the visiting team would add another run to their lead.
Up 2-0 in the top of the seventh, Colleen Barrett singled to score Pica-Johnson who led off the inning with a single to center. Saint Ambrose had a comfortable 3-0 leading heading into the bottom of the seventh or so they thought.
It was Saint Xavier’s final turn at the plate. Lux and Keilman led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Sterkowitz doubled down the left field line to score Lux. Madeleine Meisi and Zaliyah Johnson pinch-ran for Keilman and Sterkowitz respectively.
They would both come in to score a batter later as O’Donnell followed Sterkowitz double with a double of her own. The score was now tied at three. Alyssa Kolecki came in to the game to pinch-run for O’Donnell.
After some shuffling by Saint Ambrose, Brittany Schultz singled to left to drive in Kolecki as the Cougars came back and walked off with a 4-3 victory to the delight of the players and fans in attendance.
The regulars took care of business in the first game, but it was an all-around team win in the second as players came off the bench and contributed in their own way. The Cougars improved their overall record on the season to 17-12 (8-8 CCAC).
Upcoming Schedule
4/25 @ Lewis University at 2:00pm
4/26 @ Indiana University – South Bend at 3:00pm
4/27 @ Cardinal Stritch University at 3:00pm
Ernesto Hernandez
Sports Editor