Gulf Shores, Ala. – Four players each drove in two runs and sophomore pitcher Lily Strand (Evergreen Park, Ill./Saint Louis/Evergreen Park) tossed her second consecutive shutout as the Saint Xavier University softball team (11-4/0-0 CCAC) started play in the Gulf Shores Tournament with an 8-0 victory in six innings over University of Houston-Victoria (Texas) Friday afternoon in Gulf Shores, Ala. Strand allowed only four hits, one walk and she struck out five batters to improve her record to 4-3 in the circle this season. Junior infielder Kaitlyn Wright (Chicago, Ill./Marist) and sophomore catcher Natalie Johnson (Bourbonnais, Ill./Grand Valley State/Bradley-Bourbonnais) each slugged two-run doubles for the Cougars.

• Sophomore infielder Aubrey Wroble (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) collected four hits in four at-bats with three runs scored, a double and a stolen base.
• Junior infielder Mallory O'Connor (Bourbonnais, Ill./Olivet Nazarene/Bishop McNamara) was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run.
• Johnson and Wright each went 1-for-3, respectively.
• Senior infielder Abbie Carr (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) had one hit in two official at-bats with two RBI, two runs scored and a walk.
• Junior outfielder Haley Matlock (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) was 2-for-3 with a run and a stolen base.
• SXU got on the board in the bottom of the 1^st after O'Connor sliced an RBI single down the left field line. Carr followed her with an RBI fielder's choice.
• Wright extended the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the 3^rd, smashing a two-run double.
• In the bottom of the 4^th, Carr lined an RBI base hit back up the middle and Johnson clubbed a two-run double to center field two batters later.
• O'Connor ended the game in the bottom of the 6^th when she hit an RBI single through the left side of the infield to drive in Wroble, who led the inning off with a bunt single and stealing second base.

Saint Xavier (11-4/0-0 CCAC) is scheduled to play Brenau University (Ga.) and Point University (Ga.) in a split doubleheader in the Gulf Shores Tournament. Game one is slated for a 9:00 am start with game two tabbed for an 11:15 am first pitch.