The No. 15 ranked (as of April 8) Saint Xavier University softball team is riding a six game winning streak dating back to April 2. In that time, SXU has scored 61 runs in those six games; outscoring their opponents 61-8.
Beginning with the two games on Tuesday, April 2, against Robert Morris University (Ill.) on the road, the Cougars won both games by a combined 15-2 score. The first game took five innings for Saint Xavier to seal the deal and the shutout, 10-0.
SXU scored three runs in the opening frame which featured two runs scored on errors by the Eagles and an RBI fielder’s choice by senior shortstop Ashley Sullivan. A six run third inning and another insurance run in the fifth finished it off for the Cougars.
At the end of the game, senior third baseman Kate Mollohan had two RBI’s on two hits. Junior catcher/first baseman Ariel Hinton, sophomore catcher Megan James, sophomore outfielder Holly Hilden, sophomore outfielder Shannon Lauret, freshman second baseman Kasey Kanaga as well as Sullivan all had one RBI in the first game.
The second game had the Cougars down by two runs following the fifth inning until the sixth inning when Saint Xavier tied the game off of two errors by RMU which led to two unearned runs scored by Sullivan and Hinton. In extra innings, SXU put three runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Amanda Hainlen and a two RBI single to center field by Sullivan that gave the Cougars a 5-2 advantage that they did not give up.
On Thursday, April 4, Saint Xavier went on an absolute offensive surge against Trinity International University (Ill.) on the road. SXU won both games in five innings by a combined score of 35-1.
In the opening game, the Cougars came away with a 14-0 victory on a perfect game thrown by junior pitcher Megan Nonnemacher who went five innings with eight strikeouts. Everyone on the team that had an at-bat for the team had an RBI on the day.
Saint Xavier was led by Hilden with three RBI’s while freshman pitcher/designated hitter Nicole Nonnemacher chimed in with two more RBI’s. SXU then went on to dominate TIU in the second game of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) match-up, 21-1.
A four RBI game by Hilden put her at a combined 4-for-8 in the two games including seven RBI, a triple, and two home runs to lead the Cougar offense. Second baseman Samantha Saunders had two RBI’s in the game as well while third baseman Sarah Saunders recorded five hits (team-leading) and one RBI.
Trinity International fell to 0-22 after the loss and Saint Xavier made sure that their first win did not come against them on this day.
In the most recent games against Ashford University (Iowa), SXU took both games, 6-5 in nine innings and 5-0 in game two. Although Ashford outhit the Cougars 12-9, Saint Xavier had one more run which was the difference maker in the first contest.
SXU was led by Hinton who posted three RBI’s on the game. After trailing 5-1 after the top of the seventh inning, the Cougars rallied and scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to knot the game up at five.
Two scoreless innings by Ashford put Saint Xavier in position to take the game in walk off fashion which they did when Hainlen came up and hit a solo home run to give SXU the 6-5 victory.
The second game was led by strong pitching from Nicole Nonnemacher who pitched a complete game only giving up three hits while recording 12 strikeouts. The Cougars were led offensively by two RBI’s from Lauret and another RBI by Mollohan.
Saint Xavier will continue its home stand against No. 19 ranked Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) on Wednesday, April 10. The first game of the double-header is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.
If you cannot make it out to the game, be sure to follow SXU Athletics on Twitter and Facebook for updates throughout the game. Also, be sure to check out the post game story on sxucougars.com.
Greg Pilafas
Deputy Editor in Chief