Olivet Nazarene Sits In Driver’s Seat In Softball Tourney
Softball – Mon, May 6
CROWN POINT, Ind. — For the first time in three years, there will be a new Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament champion after University of St. Francis was eliminated from the field late Sunday night by No. 6 seed Judson University. The Eagles are one of only three teams remaining after Indiana University South Bend and Trinity International University were also eliminated on Sunday at the Crown Point Sportsplex.
No. 1 seed Olivet Nazarene University (37-8) is in the driver’s seat after securing a pair of one-run victories over both Indiana South Bend (13-12) and Saint Xavier University (8-7) on Sunday to remain as the sole unbeaten team left in the tournament. The Tigers will wait to find out who they play on Monday after Saint Xavier (30-9) and Judson (25-15) square off in an elimination game starting at 10 am. ONU faces the winner at noon with a second championship game to follow if necessary at 2 pm.
Monday’s first game takes on added precedence as that winner punches its ticket to the NAIA National Championships Opening Round since Olivet Nazarene has already earned the league’s first bid by winning the regular season. The second bid goes to the tournament champion or the runner-up if Olivet Nazarene also wins the tournament title.
Recapping Sunday:
Saint Xavier 4, St. Francis 3: Taylor Sterkowitz drove in three of Saint Xavier’s four runs on a pair of hits, including a two-run double in the first inning, but it was Frankie Demack’s two-out, run-scoring single in the sixth inning that broke a 3-3 tie to secure the victory.
Olivet Nazarene 13, Indiana South Bend 12: Down 9-1 after three innings, Olivet Nazarene put together one of the greatest comebacks of all time by outscoring Indiana South Bend 12 -3 the rest of the way, keyed by a seven-run fifth inning. Six different Olivet Nazarene players produced multiple hits, including Alli Davis (3-for-4), Felicia Wacasey (3-for-4) and Makenna Emerson (3-for-4). Davis also drove in four runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh inning. Wacasey and Emerson added two RBI each.
Judson 8, Indiana South Bend 6: After ties at 3-3 and 6-6, Judson starting pitcher Lindsay Zdroik (10-5) took matters into her own hands with a run-scoring single in the sixth inning to put the Eagles up for good. Zdroik finished the day 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, the same number as teammates Skye Osborne (3 hits) and Sydney Harrison. Brittany Vanderbrink drove home three of IUSB’s runs.
St. Francis 9, Trinity International 1: St. Francis put up three runs in three different innings and eight different Saints drove in a run making things easier in the circle for Taylor Barsz (8-3). Danielle Callahan led St. Francis with three hits.
Olivet Nazarene 8, Saint Xavier 7 – 8 Innings: Saint Xavier looked to be in control after going up 7-4 with a five-run sixth inning, but Olivet Nazarene answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning to knot the score at seven to eventually force extra innings. A two-out error that brought home a run one inning later ended the contest and provided Olivet Nazarene with its second come-from-behind victory on the day. Emily Carstens again did double duty both in the circle (25-4) and at the plate (3-for-4, 2 RBI). Morgan Charters also went 4-for-4 with three RBI for the winners.
Judson 11, St. Francis 5: St. Francis could never recover from Judson’s six-run second inning as Haley Dobson and Elizabeth Gagnon each drove in three runs for the Eagles.
For all tournament information, go to Tournament Website.
Live coverage of the tournament can be found at Live Broadcasts.
The updated tournament schedule follows:
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Game #1: No. 3 seed Saint Xavier 7, No. 6 seed Judson 3
Game #2: No. 2 seed St. Francis 9, No. 7 seed Cardinal Stritch 0
Game #3: No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 7, No. 4 seed St. Ambrose 3
Game #4: No. 1 seed Olivet Nazarene 17, No. 8 seed Trinity International 2
Game #5: No. 6 seed Judson 11, No. 7 seed Cardinal Stritch 0
Game #6: No. 8 seed Trinity International 3, No. 4 seed St. Ambrose 2
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Game #7: No. 3 seed Saint Xavier 4, No. 2 seed St. Francis 3
Game #8: No. 1 seed Olivet Nazarene 13, No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 12
Game #9: No. 6 seed Judson 8, No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 6
Game #10: No. 2 seed St. Francis 9, No. 8 seed Trinity International 1
Game #11: No. 1 seed Olivet Nazarene 8, No. 3 seed Saint Xavier 7 — 8 Innings
Game #12: No. 6 seed Judson 11, No. 2 seed St. Francis 5
Monday, May 6, 2019
Game #13: No. 3 seed Saint Xavier (30-9) vs. No. 6 seed Judson (25-15) — 10 am
Game #14: No. 1 Olivet Nazarene (37-8) vs. Winner-Game #13 — 12 pm (Championship)
Game #15: Winner-Game #14 vs. Loser-Game #14 — 2 pm (If necessary)