The Saint Xavier softball team is back in action and they’re starting the season off on the right foot going 5-3 in the first eight games.
No. 25 Saint Xavier looks to have another fun, power-loaded season with hopes of winning the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) and heading back to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament.
Senior outfielder, Lyda Robinson, reached a career milestone, recording her 200th career collegiate hit with a leadoff base hit. She is just the fifteenth player in the program’s 43-year history to register 200 or more career hits.
The Cougars started off their season competing in the Roosevelt Dome Tournament in Rosemont, Illinois, from Friday, February 3 through Sunday the 5.
Saint Xavier also played a doubleheader against Missouri Baptist University on Saturday, Feb. 11.
In their first two games on Feb. 3, Saint Xavier split the games, losing a nail-biter to Madonna University and crushing Concordia University.
Game one was a true pitcher’s battle, both offenses were shut out through six innings.
Despite taking the loss, sophomore pitcher, Julianne Claas, pitched a gem giving up just two runs on seven hits through seven innings.
The Cougars tried to retaliate in the bottom of the seventh, but could only muster one run to the Crusaders two in their half of the inning.
But Saint Xavier quickly shook off the tough loss and bounced back, beating Concordia 9-1.
Junior pitcher, Laila Summers, also threw a complete game for the Cougars. She allowed one run (unearned) on five hits with five strikeouts.
The offense gave Summers early run support when they scored three runs in the first inning which was all the runs they needed to take home the win, but scored six insurance runs.
Seniors Maggie Bailey and Sarah Bowen, both recorded two hits in four at-bats, each hitting a double with Bowen driving in and scoring a run.
The next day Summers shined on the mound, recording the win in both games of the doubleheader against Aquinas College and Cleary University.
Once again the offense provided Summers with plenty of run support scoring nine runs again in the win.
Sophomore catcher, Haley Matlock, also had a strong batting performance going 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Freshman infielder, Kaitlyn Wright, had two hits in two at-bats, driving in a run and scoring a run.
Game two of the day was a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, but the Cougars came out on top with a 6-5 victory.
Junior, Alysysa Frey, got her first start of the season, she tossed three innings allowing three runs before Summers came in and threw four innings of relief to get the win.
Cleary scored first and were up 3-1 after three innings, but the comeback Cougars scored three runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth to take the lead. SXU was able to hold off Cleary’s threat in the bottom of the seventh to take home another win.
Robinson finished off her fantastic day at the plate going 3-4 against CU. She scored twice, drove in an RBI, and stole a base.
On the last day of the tournament, the Cougars bulldozed Concordia University and Concordia College, combining for 18 runs on offense and allowing just three runs between the two games.
Senior outfielder, Sarah Bowen, had a huge day at the plate going 4-7, driving in six runs, scoring three runs, and hitting SXU softball’s first home run of the season. Her power surge proved to be a deciding factor in another doubleheader sweep for the Cougars.
The Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead but SXU scored three runs in their half of the first and then four more in the next inning. The offense added three more runs in the sixth as Claas shut down the Concordia offense.
Claas earned her first win of the season in the first game against CU, giving up two earned runs on five hits and struck out five batters.
Sophomore infielder, Lilli Mcglothlin, had two hits in three at-bats, recording an RBI double and scoring a run in the big win.
In the final game of the weekend against Aquinas, Summers registered her fourth win of the year. She tallied three strikeouts and allowed just three hits in her first shutout of the season.
Robinson capped off her magnificent weekend going 2-3 at the plate with a triple, two RBIs, and two more runs scored.
Wright and Bowen also had triples in the shutout against Aquinas.
The following weekend, SXU was swept by Missouri Baptist University in a doubleheader. Both games were hard fought despite the final scores.
Claas started the first game on Saturday, going six innings allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out six Spartan batters. It was a strong effort from the sophomore pitcher but the Missouri Baptist batters got to her in the third inning, scoring three runs and SXU could not pull off a comeback win this time.
MBU starter, Shelby Sievers, shutdown the Cougar offense for five innings, allowing two runs in the last two innings, leading her team to a 4-2 win.
Bowen led off the sixth with a double and sophomore outfielder, Sophie Carr, led off the seventh with a double as well, but Saint Xavier could only muster up two runs with the leadoff doubles.
In game two, Summers pitched a gem, going six innings and allowing only one run on four hits and tallying two strikeouts. Unfortunately the strong outing from Summers was not enough to carry Saint Xavier to a victory, the offense only had two hits and Missouri Baptist’s one run was enough to send SXU packing.
The Cougars don’t play again until Feb. 25 where they will be taking on Taylor University. Game one is slated for a 2pm start time with game two starting shortly after the completion of the first game.