Top-Seeded Saint Xavier To Play For Softball Tournament Title On Sunday
CROWN POINT, Ind. --- Top-seeded Saint Xavier University continued its unbeaten streak against league foes to remain as the lone undefeated team in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament, while No. 6 seed Calumet College of St. Joseph used a pair of upsets to remain alive on the second day of the tournament.
Those two teams, along with No. 3 seed St. Ambrose University, are the only squads left standing in the six-team, double-elimination tournament, which continues on Sunday at noon with St. Ambrose (27-19) facing Calumet St. Joseph (17-26) in an elimination game. The winner of that contest meets Saint Xavier (35-6) for the first of potentially two championship contests at 2 pm.
On Saturday, Saint Xavier ran its CCAC unbeaten streak to 28 games by rallying from a 4-0 deficit to defeat No. 3 St. Ambrose University 9-6 courtesy of a nine-run third inning. Calumet St. Joseph, meanwhile, used back-to-back 20-hit games to upset both No. 2 University of St. Francis (10-4) and No. 5 Indiana University South Bend (14-6)..
If Calumet St. Joseph were to win two more games on Sunday, a second title game would be played on Monday at noon at the Crown Point Sportsplex.
Recapping Saturday:
Calumet St. Joseph 14, Indiana South Bend 6
A five-run second inning turned a 4-2 deficit into a 7-4 lead for the hosts and the Crimson Wave never looked back, fueled by a 20-hit attack. Adelina Staden (3 RBIs) and Kylee Slack (2 RBIs) both produced four hits, with Slack (3-2) also delivering on the mound. She worked the final 5 1/3 innings. Abigail Yarnell led the Indiana South Bend offense with two hits and a run batted in.
St. Francis 4, Olivet Nazarene 1
St. Francis pecked away at Olivet Nazarene, scoring single runs in each of four innings to advance. Jaelynn Taylor accounted for half of the runs with an RBI single and a solo home run. Kiersten Manning (12-8) went the distance on the mound, registering six strikeouts in the process. Zoe Oshiro and Faith Mikos each had a pair of hits for ONU.
Saint Xavier 9, St. Ambrose 6
Taylor Becker's three-run double in the third inning was the big blow for the Cougars as part of a nine-run outburst to turn a 4-0 deficit into the five-run advantage. Payton Antkiewicz (15-1) also aided the effort by slowing down St. Ambrose's offense in her 5 1/3 innings of relief. Ellie Downing (3-for-3) and Becca Haag (2-for-4) each drove in two runs for SAU.
Calumet St. Joseph 10, St. Francis 4
Calumet St. Joseph's second 20-hit game of the day was sparked by no fewer than five Crimson Wave players delivering at least three hits. Kelsey Lovelace led the way with her perfect 5-for-5 game as part of an overall eight-hit day for her. Aubrie Morales, Adelina Staden, Kylee Slack and Ally Sims all registered three hits, with Sims (3-4) being the benefactor on the mound.
The updated schedule and results follow:
Friday, May 1, 2025
Game #1: No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 2, No. 4 seed Olivet Nazarene 1
Game #2: No. 3 seed St. Ambrose 6, No. 6 seed Calumet St. Joseph 5 --- 8 innings
Game #3: No. 1 seed Saint Xavier 8, No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 0
Game #4: No. 3 seed St. Ambrose 3, No. 2 seed St. Francis 2
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Game #5: No. 6 seed Calumet St. Joseph 14, No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 6
Game #6: No. 2 seed St. Francis 4, No. 4 seed Olivet Nazarene 1
Game #7: No. 1 seed Saint Xavier 9, No. 3 seed St. Ambrose 6
Game #8: No. 6 seed Calumet St. Joseph 10, No. 2 seed St. Francis 4
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Game #9: No. 3 seed St. Ambrose (27-19) vs. No. 6 seed Calumet St. Joseph (17-26) --- 12 pm
Game #10: No. 1 seed Saint Xavier (35-6) vs. Winner-Game #9 --- 2 pm (Championship)
Monday, May 5, 2025
Game #11: Winner-Game #10 vs. Loser-Game #10 --- 12 pm (If necessary)