| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Viterbo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
|
Saint Xavier (IL) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 0 |
CROWN POINT, Ind. - Olivet Nazarene University softball began their conference tournament on Wednesday at the Crown Point Sportsplex. The Tigers entered the tournament as the #4-seed, and posted a shutout win over Viterbo in the first round before dropping their second game of the day to top-seeded Saint Xavier.
Olivet 4, Viterbo 0
Olivet used timely run production and a dominant pitching performance to secure a 4–0 shutout win over Viterbo in the first round. The Tigers struck first in the second inning when Gaetana Calo lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Victoria Strines to score for a 1–0 lead. Olivet added another run in the third as Meegan Randall delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Mia Dal Bon. The offense continued to chip away in the fifth inning. Gwen Bender lined an RBI single to left field, bringing home Randall and extending the advantage to 3–0. An inning later, Dal Bon drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Calo and putting the game out of reach.
Strines was the story in the circle for Olivet Nazarene. The right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing six hits while walking two and striking out three. She worked out of multiple jams, including stranding runners in scoring position, to earn her 12th win of the season.
Olivet 1, Saint Xavier 9
In the second game of the day, Olivet struggled to keep pace early and could not recover in a 9–1 loss to Saint Xavier.
The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead after four innings before Olivet Nazarene briefly showed signs of life in the bottom of the fifth inning. Analeah Ramirez singled to left field to drive in Victoria Strines, trimming the deficit to 3–1. However, the momentum was abruptly halted when Olivet was unable to capitalize further as the inning ended on the bases with runners cut down at home and second. Saint Xavier answered immediately with a decisive fifth inning, plating five runs. The Cougars added another run in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Olivet Nazarene managed just four hits in the game, with Strines and Gaetana Calo accounting for two of them. Olivia Saldana took the loss for Olivet Nazarene, working five innings and allowing nine runs—seven earned—against a productive Saint Xavier lineup that collected 10 hits and drew six walks.
Up Next
The Tigers now turn their attention to Thursday where they will need to make their way through the consolation bracket. Up next are the Fighting Saints from St. Francis (Ill.) at 3 p.m. on Thursday. With a win in that matchup, Olivet would play at 5:30 p.m. on the same day.
--ONU--