SXU softball players celebrate a victory over Bellevue. SXU photo
College Softball | Close losses at nationals end Saint Xavier’s season
By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
The Saint Xavier softball team played three nailbiters in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament.
But the end result was a 1-2 record to eliminate the Cougars from advancing.
SXU (28-14) opened the tournament by nipping Bellevue (Nebraska), 5-4, in Sioux City, Iowa on May 13. Alexus Reese hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Maddi Stahulak with the winning run.
In the second round, the Cougars dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Northwestern College (Iowa). Aubrey Wroble drove home a run in the top of the seventh on a fielder’s choice, but the game ended on a close play at first base with a runner on third. SXU left seven runners stranded in the loss.
The final game was a 6-4 loss in a rematch with Bellevue. Kaitlyn Wright had three hits and Abbie Carr had two, but the Cougars stranded nine runners in the setback.
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