CHICAGO — The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College softball team pushed No. 22 Saint Xavier (Ill.) to the brink in the second game of a doubleheader on the road on Tuesday afternoon (March 25).
SMWC movIed to 11-11 overall and will return home inside River States Conference play on Thursday, March 27 when they host Rio Grande (Ohio) for a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm (ET).
GAME ONE:
The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College softball team suffered an 8-0 loss in six innings against No. 22 Saint Xavier (Ill.) on Tuesday afternoon at SXU Softball Field.
SMWC struggled offensively, managing only two hits in the contest.
Kyar McVey recorded a triple, while
Jaicee Jackson added a single. The Pomeroys were unable to bring a runner across the plate, leaving five runners stranded.
Saint Xavier capitalized on early opportunities, scoring in four of the six innings played. The Cougars plated a run in the first before adding two more in the second, followed by a three-run fifth and a two-run sixth to end the game via run-rule. Natalie Johnson led the Cougars offensively with two hits and three RBIs, while Faith Crane contributed two runs scored and an RBI.
Madison Moultray (0-1) took the loss for SMWC, allowing six runs—four earned—on six hits over five innings, striking out seven while walking five.
Lanna Martinez pitched a third of an inning in relief, surrendering two earned runs on three hits.
L. Strand (10-3) earned the complete-game shutout for Saint Xavier, allowing just two hits over six innings while striking out four and walking five.
GAME TWO:
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College put up a strong fight but fell just short in a 5-4 loss to Saint Xavier University (SXU) in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader at SXU Softball Field.
Saint Xavier capitalized on timely hitting and a two-run sixth inning to secure the win, overcoming a late push from SMWC. Pitcher P. Antkiewic (6-1) earned the win in relief, while L. Strand recorded her third save of the season. SMWC's
Emily Fitzwater (2-5) took the loss despite a complete-game effort.
SXU struck first in the opening frame when N. Johnson singled to drive in A. Wroble, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead. SMWC responded in the second inning with an RBI double down the left-field line by H. Boardman, scoring J. Crawford to tie the game at 1-1.
The back-and-forth battle continued as SXU regained the lead in the third, courtesy of an RBI single from M. O'Connor. Crawford answered for the Pomeroys in the fourth with a solo home run to left field, knotting the score at 2-2.
O'Connor drove in another run in the fifth to put SXU ahead once more, but SMWC countered in the sixth when J. Fuller's sacrifice fly brought home J. Kinzer to level the game at 3-3.
SXU took control in the bottom of the sixth, as D. Goodman tripled to right field, plating A. Carr. Yala Lovan followed with a sacrifice fly, bringing home Goodman for a 5-3 advantage.
The Pomeroys made a final push in the seventh when Kinzer drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to one. However, Strand shut down the rally, sealing the 5-4 victory for Saint Xavier.
SMWC recorded six hits, led by Crawford's 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored and an RBI. Fitzwater went the distance in the circle, allowing eight hits and five earned runs while striking out six.
For SXU, Wroble had a standout game, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored. O'Connor added two hits and two RBIs, while Goodman's sixth-inning triple proved pivotal in securing the win.
