SXU Athletics
Wednesday
Saint Xavier’s softball team battled Judson University in a doubleheader. The Cougars played two tough, tight games where they would would one and tie the other.
After a scoreless first inning, the Eagles would be the first team to score as they would score a run in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 game lead.
It looked as if the Cougars were going to be able to answer that run in the bottom of the third inning after loading up the bases, but they could not getting a run home in the inning.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Judson would add to their lead, scoring a run in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 2-0. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cougars knew their opportunities to tie the game or take the lead were waning.
They would waste no time in attempting a comeback as they would load up the bases, once again, with no outs in the inning. But it looked like the Cougars were going to squander their opportunity to score again after two straight outs.
With what would have most likely been their best scoring chance sitting in front of them, the Cougars would capitalize on it as first baseman Amanda Hainlen would hit a bases clearing three rbi double to take the lead at 3-2.
The Cougars would add another run to their lead in this inning as well when center fielder Shannon Lauret hit a rbi single to extend their lead to 4-2. That inning would prove to be enough to carry the Cougars to a game one win by the score of 4-2.
Starting pitcher Nicole Nonnemacher pitched well in this game, pitching all seven innings, while allowing five hits and two earned runs in the game. She also struck out 13 batters in the game.
After allowing the Cougars to come back and take the first game from them, Judson came out swinging as they score two runs in the very first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. From there, this game would become a pitchers duel as neither team would be able to get any offense going for the majority of the game.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Eagles would add on to their lead by scoring a run to see their lead to 3-0. With just three guaranteed at-bats left in the game and facing a three run deficit, the Cougars would have one last opportunity to avoid suffering their first conference loss of the season.
They would start off the inning with a single and a hit by pitch to put the game tying run on base. After an out, the Cougars star shortstop, Rebeka Ferguson, would come to the plate with a chance to either cut into the deficit or tie the game.
She would do the latter, hitting a three run bomb to center field to tie the game at 3-3. That would be the last score of the game as the Cougars, nor the Eagles, would be able to score another run in the game as it would end in a 3-3 tie after eight innings of play.
Starting pitcher Callie Brown pitched all eight innings in the game and gave up seven hits, one walk, and three runs, two earned, while striking out two batters. With the win and the tie, the Cougars overall record would be 27-3-2, but the tie would end their winning streak within their conference.
Despite this, their conference record stood at 9-0-1.
Sunday
The #5 ranked Saint Xavier softball team battled the #24 ranked Cardinal Stritch University. The Cougars swept their conference rivals, but both games were very and close and low scoring. The first game was a pitching purist’s dream as neither team could get any offense going at all in this game.
In fact, neither team would even have a prime opportunity to score until the bottom of the fourth inning. In that frame, the Wolves had a man on base, when one of their hitters would hit a double to center field.
On the play, the Wolves’ base runner looked like she was about to score after rounding three to head home. But the Cougars’ defense recovered quickly enough to throw the runner out at home plate, ending the inning with the game still being tied at 0-0.
Other than that instance, the game would be one where neither team could get anything going, until the seventh and final inning. In the top of the seventh, the Cougars were able to break through. The inning started off with a single by center fielder Shannon Lauret.
After the single, with a man on first, the Wolves committed an error to allow the Cougars to have a man on first and second with nobody out.
After a sacrifice bunt by right fielder by right fielder Kasey Kanaga and an intentional walk of shortstop Rebeka Ferguson to load up the bases, left fielder Katie Sears would come up big by hitting a sacrifice fly to left field to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
After finally gaining the lead, the Cougars would not give it up in the bottom of the seventh as starting pitcher Nicole Nonnemacher would pitch a one-two-three inning and preserve the 1-0 victory for Saint Xavier.
Nonnemacher was the star of the game as she once again pitched a complete game shutout and only gave up four hits and two walks while striking out 15 batters en rout to her 14th win of the season.
Just like the first game, the second game would be a pitchers duel as well, as neither team could get anything going until the fourth inning. In the fourth inning, Cardinal Stritch would score a run to take a 1-0 lead.
This lead would hold up until the sixth inning. The Cougars would once again come up big in a clutch situation just like they have all year long as they would score two runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead at 2-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the game drawing to a close, the Cougars would put in the star of game one, Nicole Nonnemacher, with one out left in the inning. From there, she would be just as dominant as she was throughout game one, shutting down her opponents to preserve the 2-1 win and complete the sweep of their conference rival.
With the sweep, the Cougars overall record is now at 29-3-2 with a conference record of 11-0-1. The Cougars will look to continue their success when they play in another conference doubleheader against Trinity International University on Tuesday, April 14.
John Romando
Senior Sports Editor
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