Cougars’ softball was back in action on Thursday the 30, this time at their home field, taking on Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) opponent Cardinal Stritch University. Saint Xavier won both games in a forceful fashion, game one closing with a final score of 12-0 and game two by a score of 10-3.
Junior, Laila Summers, was the workhorse of the day, both victories going to her, improving her record on the year to 11-4.
Senior catcher, Sarah Bowen, had the big bat of the day, coming up clutch multiple times in both games. She finished the day 5-7 at the dish with three doubles and five RBIs.
Game one required only five innings of play thanks to the Cougars’ offensive outburst in the third inning when they scored eight runs on seven hits.
Summers started the game with a one-two-three top of the first, recording two swinging strikeouts in the top of the first. The bottom half of the inning proved to be very different for SXU than it was for Cardinal Stritch.
Leadoff hitter and senior outfielder, Nicole Lovato, got the offense going with some small ball, a bunt to the pitcher landed her on first and she promptly stole second. Lovato’s bunt single and stolen base sent a message to the Wolves that they were going to play aggressively from the get go.
Senior outfielder, Lyda Robinson, also bunted her way on, this time to third base and Lovato advanced to third. And much like Lovato, Robinson stole second after her bunt single.
An early RBI opportunity was provided to Bowen and she came up clutch with a single to left field, driving in both runners and advancing all the way to third on the play.
A groundout to second from sophomore infielder, Abbie Carr, drove in Bowen, extending the lead to 3-0.
But first inning scoring was not done yet, junior first baseman, Alexus Reese, doubled to keep the lineup moving and senior shortstop, Morgan Haefling, would eventually drive Reese in on a single, capping off the Cougars’ four-run first.
The big third inning started off with a Bowen double to right field, A. Carr followed by singling and driving Bowen in to extend the lead to 5-0. A. Carr would drive in Bowen one more time in the third, making the game 12-0, completely shutting down CSU.
Carr and Bowen both finished the game with three RBIs.
Summers tossed four of the five innings, striking out eight batters and allowing just two hits. Freshman pitcher, Olivia Balog, threw the last inning, striking out two of the three batters faced.
Sophomore Julianne Claas,started game two but got pulled after 1.2 innings of work after allowing two runs on one hit, and walking one batter and hitting two. One hit batsman came with the bases loaded which prompted the pitching change.
Junior Alyssa Frey came in to relieve Claas but hit the first batter she faced, bringing in another CSU run to give them a two-run lead.
Going into the fourth inning, the Wolves had a 3-1 lead, but the Cougar offense had another massive inning in store for Cardinal Stritch.
In the bottom half of the fourth inning, Saint Xavier brought 11 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs on seven hits.
Bowen came up to bat with two runners on and two outs, once again needing a clutch hit to turn this game around and once again she came up big time. She tied the game with a two-run triple to right field, providing a much-needed spark to the Cougars’ offense.
Five more runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning, all with two outs.
Summers completely shut down the CSU offense for 3.1 innings, striking out two and giving up no runs or hits.
Saint Xavier scored two more runs, one each in the sixth and seventh, capping off an all-around magnificent day at the plate.
The most impressive stat to come out of these games was that the Cougars did not hit a single home run. We know this offense can pack a power punch, but it’s good to know that this team can score 22 runs, in one day, without any long balls. They can, and will, find other ways to score.
Chicago weather may still be cold but the Cougars’ offense is red hot, they are on a five game winning streak and are tied for first in the CCAC standings with Saint Francis University.
Saint Xavier’s next games come today, April 5, at Saint Francis in Joliet, IL. The first game is scheduled for 3:30 pm with game two starting shortly after the completion of game one. The Cougars also play Tuesday the 11 in Deerfield, IL against Trinity International University, the first game of the doubleheader scheduled for 3 pm.