Klamath Falls, Ore. – No. 4 Saint Xavier University softball (36-13/17-3 CCAC) won twice Tuesday afternoon to advance out of the elimination bracket, defeating No. 3 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) by a score of 6-5 and taking down No. 2 Northwestern College (Iowa) in six innings by a 10-2 final to set up a matchup with host and No. 1 seed Oregon Institute of Technology in the NAIA Opening Round Klamath Falls Bracket on Wednesday afternoon in Klamath Falls, Ore. Senior outfielder Sarah Bowen (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) hit a clutch two-run home run in the top of the 7^th that proved to be the difference in the win in game one. Junior pitcher Alyssa Frey (Sheboygan, Wis./Trinity International/Sheboygan South) went the distance in game two, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing just three hits, two runs (one earned) and walking six to improve her record to 8-1. It is the eighth time in nine NAIA Opening Round appearances that SXU has played in the championship game (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 & 2023).

Game One:

• Bowen finished 1-for-3 with a walk.
• Junior infielder Alexus Reese (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
• Sophomore infielder Abbie Carr (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) collected two hits in four at-bats with two RBI.
• Senior outfielder Nicole Lovato (Channahon, Ill./Minooka Community) was 1-for-2 with a triple, a run scored, a walk and a stolen base. Her stolen base in the 2^nd inning set the single-season program record for steals giving her 43 on the season on 45 attempts and breaking her teammate, senior outfielder Lyda Robinson's (Seneca, Ill./Seneca) of 42 set last season.
• Robinson reached a huge career milestone with a base hit in the top of the 3^rd, moving her into sole possession of second place on the all-time hits list for the Cougars. She now has 263 career hits, second to only SXU Hall-of-Famer Colleen Kilduff (2004-07), who had 302.
• Junior pitcher Laila Summers (Joliet, Ill./Providence Catholic) picked up the win (22-8) after going 6.2 innings with six hits, five runs (four earned) and a strikeout.
• Frey allowed two hits in her 0.1 inning outing.
• Reese broke a scoreless tie in the top of the 3^rd with a sacrifice fly and Carr followed win an RBI single to the gap in left center.
• Reese laced an RBI double to the left center field gap in the top of the 5^th to make it 3-0.
• The Eagles took advantage of an SXU miscue and plated an unearned run in the bottom of the 5^th and would pull within a run in the bottom of the 6^th after an RBI groundout.
• Carr legged out an RBI infield single and Bowen slugged her 6^th home run of the season over the left field wall to extend the lead to 6-2 in the top of the 7^th.
• ERAU would chip away in the bottom half of the inning, connecting on back-to-back doubles to start the frame and using an RBI single to knock Summers from the contest. Frey recorded an out before back-to-back base hits, including an RBI single, brought Summers back in and she would roll the final out on a groundball.

Game Two:

• Bowen was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, a triple, an RBI and a hit-by-pitch.
• Reese went 3-for-4 with two runs and a home run.
• Senior infielder Morgan Haefling (Gilberts, Ill./Hampshire) had two hits in four trips to the plate and recorded three RBI.
• Lovato hit a two-run double and went 1-for-4.
• Freshman designated player Haley Matlock (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) had two RBI and was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
• Freshman infielder Kaitlyn Wright (Chicago, Ill./Marist) finished 2-for-3 with two runs and a double.
• Carr was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a double and a walk.
• Haefling gave Saint Xavier a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1^st off a two-run single through the left side of the infield.
• An error gave the Red Raiders a run in the top of the 3^rd to cut the lead to 2-1.
• Matlock tallied an RBI on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the 4^th and Lovato would split the gap in right center for a two-run double to push the lead to 5-1.
• In the bottom of the 5^th, Matlock sliced an RBI base hit and Robinson drove in a run on an RBI groundout to make it 7-1 in favor of the Cougars.
• A wild pitch on a walk allowed a run to score for NWC in the top of the 6^th.
• SXU hit for the cycle to end the game in the bottom of the 6^th. Reese led the inning off with her team-leading eighth home run of the year. Carr doubled and scored on an RBI triple by Bowen, and Haefling ended the contest with an RBI single to the gap in left center.

No. 4 Saint Xavier (36-13/17-3 CCAC) faces No. 1 Oregon Institute of Technology in the Klamath Fall Bracket Championship on Wednesday, May 17 at 3:00 pm central. SXU has to win twice to claim the bracket title and advance to the NAIA Softball World Series.