Saint Xavier University

Williamsburg, Ky. – The No. 2 seeded Saint Xavier University softball team (43-14/26-1 CCAC) loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 7^th, however a groundball and the throw to first narrowly beat the runner in a 3-2 loss to No. 3 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) in the elimination bracket final at the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Williamsburg (Ky.) Bracket Wednesday afternoon in Williamsburg, Ky. Senior outfielder Fiona Crane (Evergreen Park, Ill./Northern Illinois/Mother McAuley) finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored, a walk and stolen base. She extended her NAIA single-season record for stolen bases to 95. The Cougars cap the season with an overall record of 43-14. Their 43 wins are seventh-most in a season in team history, and their 57 games played are tied for 10^th most with the 1998, 2014 and 2016 squads.

• Junior infielder Aubrey Wroble (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) was 1-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch.
• Senior catcher Morgan Natanek (Palos Heights, Ill./Stagg) also had a hit in three at-bats.
• Senior infielder Mallory O'Connor (Bourbonnais, Ill./Olivet Nazarene/Bishop McNamara) drew her 38^th walk of the season, extending her single season team record, and was 0-for-2.
• Junior pitcher Lily Strand (Evergreen Park, Ill./Saint Louis/Evergreen Park) threw her 21^st complete game of the year, pitching 7.0 innings with eight hits, three runs (two earned) and walking five batters.
• The Patriots scored with the first batter of the game when she hit a triple and scored on an error.
• Senior outfielder Haley Matlock (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) tied the contest in the bottom the frame when she drove in Crane with an RBI groundout.
• UC went up 2-1 in the top of the 4^th off an RBI double.
• Crane knotted the game at two apiece in the bottom of the 5^th when she legged out an RBI infield single.
• Cumberlands hit a one-out home run over the wall in left center.