Saint Xavier Sweeps Softball Weekly Honors For Second Week In A Row

CHICAGO --- For the second week in a row, Saint Xavier University has swept Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference softball weekly honors courtesy of the play of Natalie Johnson (Bourbonnais, Ill.) and Payton Antkiewicz (Dyer, Ind.) during the seven-day period from Feb. 16-22.  The league office made the announcement on Tuesday.

Hitting safely in each of her four games played, Johnson collected CCAC Player of the Week accolades after hitting .500 with four runs batted in, all of which came on a grand slam.  All told, she went 6-for-12 at the plate with three of her hits going for extra bases, leading to a .917 slugging percentage.

Johnson's grand slam was her second of the season and came as part of a perfect 3-for-3 game in an 8-2 victory over Morningside College (Iowa) on Saturday.  She also delivered one of her two doubles on the week in the same contest.    

Defensively, the junior catcher handled all 22 of her chances cleanly in the four games and was a part of one double play.

Antkiewicz earned two of Saint Xavier's three wins on the week to garner CCAC Pitcher of the Week distinction.  She allowed just two runs over her ten innings of work for a 1.40 earned run average.

The sophomore pitcher was part of a combined no-hitter on Friday when she threw the first five innings of an 8-0 win against Doane College (Neb.).  She had eight strikeouts in that game opposite five walks.

Antkiewicz's other victory came in the 8-2 decision over Morningside on Saturday, where she also went five innings.

Saint Xavier went 3-1 on the week and is 7-3 overall.

Other Player Nominees: Marissa Carter-Olson (Viterbo), Jaelynn Taylor (St. Francis), Peyton Norman (Indiana South Bend).

Other Pitcher Nominees: Kaitlyn Schofield (St. Francis).