SXU Claims Fifth Straight Softball Tourney Crown With Perfect Run Through Field

CROWN POINT, Ind. --- After waiting nearly 24 hours, Saint Xavier University needed less than one hour to complete its unbeaten run through the 2025 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament and earn its fifth title in a row with its 13-3 victory over St. Ambrose University on Monday afternoon.  The title was the 12th for the program since 2001.

The Cougars (36-6) put up ten unanswered runs between the second and fourth innings on Monday after rain halted play on Sunday with the two teams tied at three.  SXU broke that tie with three runs in the third inning before a six-run outburst in the third inning.  Saint Xavier added its final run in the fourth inning to invoke the eight-run rule.

Six SXU players registered multi-hit contests with four of those individuals also driving in at least two runs.  That list was made up of Taylor Becker (3-for-4, 3 RBIs), Abbie Carr (2-for-3, 3 RBIs), Haley Matlock (2-for-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs) and Mallory O'Connor (2-for-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs).

Others a part of the 17-hit attack included Fiona Crane (3-for-3, 4 runs, 1 RBI) and Aubrey Wroble (3-for-4, 3 runs).

Lily Strand was the benefactor in the circle.  She improved to 16-4 on the season with the complete-game victory.

Becker, Carr, Crane, O'Connor, Wroble and Dani Goodman were all named to the all-tournament team.  They were joined on the 21-member squad by representatives from the following schools:

Calumet St. Joseph: Kelsey Lovelace, Kylee Slack, Adelina Staden.
Indiana South Bend: Abigail Yarnell, Jordan Watts.
Olivet Nazarene: Zoe Oshiro, Olivia Saldana
St. Ambrose: Ada Boysen, Kylee Claypool, Ellie Downing, Mya Millsaps, Mady Reed
St. Francis: Emily Boyle, Isabella Landeros, Kiersten Manning

Mya Millsaps led the offense for St. Ambrose (28-20) with her two hits and one run batted in.

With the title, Saint Xavier, winners of 29 straight games against league teams dating back to last year, moves on to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round May 12-15.  Pairings for that postseason round will be announced on Wednesday (May 7) by the NAIA National Office. 

The tournament 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 8, No. 6 seed Calumet St. Joseph 2

Monday, May 5, 2025
Game #10: No. 1 seed Saint Xavier 13, No. 3 seed St. Ambrose 3