CHICAGO – Senior pitcher Laila Summers (Joliet, Ill./Providence Catholic) tossed her fourth shutout of the season and was aided by four RBI from senior infielder Alexus Reese (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) in a 10-0 victory in five innings for Saint Xavier University softball (13-9/1-1 CCAC) in game one of both their Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) and home opener Friday afternoon at the SXU Softball Field in Chicago, Ill. The Cougars were shutout by a score of 2-0 in the second game as the Titans rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the 6^th off of junior pitcher Julianne Claas (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Hamilton). The games were played on the new artificial surface that was installed over the Fall at the SXU Softball Field, replacing the old natural grass and dirt.

Game One:

• Reese tallied three hits in three at-bats with a double and a run scored.
• Sophomore infielder Kaitlyn Wright (Chicago, Ill./Marist) went 1-for-2 with two runs, a double and a walk.
• Junior designated player Abbie Carr (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) cracked her first home run of the season and was 1-for-3.
• Junior catcher Lindsay Morgan (Huntley, Ill./Keiser/Huntley) hit a two-run single and had a stolen base.
• Freshman outfielder Megan Kirnbauer (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a walk.
• Freshman designated player Yalayzah Lovan (Pleasant Hill, Iowa/Dowling Catholic) drove in a run and finished 1-for-3.
• Summers (9-4) allowed just three hits and she posted a pair of strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
• Reese sliced a two-run double and Morgan hit a two-run single in the bottom of the 1^st for an early 4-0 advantage for SXU.
• A two-run single off the bat of Reese in the bottom of the 2^nd to make it 6-0.
• Lovan hit an RBI single to the gap in right center to push the lead to 7-0.
• In the bottom of the 4^th, Wright smashed an RBI double and she would score from third after the runner at first was caught in run-down trying to steal second. Carr followed with a long home run over the left field wall to cap the scoring.

Game Two:

• Carr hit her second triple of the year and was 1-for-3.
• Reese went 1-for-3 with a walk.
• Freshman infielder Aubrey Wroble (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) was 1-for-4 from the leadoff spot.
• Junior outfielder Maddi Stahulak (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) had a hit in three at-bats.
• Wright finished 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.
• Claas (4-5) took the loss after throwing 5.1 innings, giving up just four hits with two earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts.
• Summers logged 1.2 innings of relief with one hit and a strikeout.
• A one-out home run, followed by a triple and an RBI single gave IUSB a 2-0 lead in the top of the 6th.
• Saint Xavier loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with two outs, however Indiana South Bend recorded a strikeout to end the frame.
• The Cougars would get the tying runs on base with one out in the bottom of the 7^th before a pair of infield pop outs ended the game.

Saint Xavier (13-9/1-1 CCAC) has a quick turnaround as they travel to Joliet, Ill. to take on University of St. Francis (Ill.) in a CCAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 6. The games will be played at Joliet Junior College with first pitch for game one slated for 1:00 pm.