University of St. Francis (III.)

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- Sarah Viar's walk-off hit in Game 1 and Missy Saldana's fourth inning RBI double in Game 2 made for an exciting day for the University of St. Francis softball team in its 4-3 and 3-2 must-win victories over Olivet Nazarene University and Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), respectively, in the elimination bracket of the 2026 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the Crown Point Sportsplex in Crown Point, IN.

Four Saints produced multiple hits on the day, highlighted by Saldana (4-for-8, 1 RBI).  Kylie Cook (2-for-3, 1 RBI), Jaelynn Taylor (2-for-3, 2 BB) and Isabella Landeros (2-for-6, 1 RBI) each secured two.

Game 1:  USF 4, Olivet Nazarene 3
While the walk-off base hit from Viar was the deciding factor in Game 1, two clutch RBI doubles from Kamryn Koontz (2 RBI) and Cook (1 RBI) in the second and third frames were just as important in the outcome.

After ONU (29-21) initially took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, St. Francis did not waste any time in securing the lead back in its favor one half inning later when Koontz drove in Taylor and Landeros with a deep double to left field to mark the score at 2-1.  Cook then tacked on an additional run in the third with another double to left field to plate Saldana, who had previously reached base via a double of her own.

The Tigers made things interesting in the sixth and seventh frames, however, when two one-out walks turned into runs for the guests to tie the score at 3-3 heading in to the bottom of the seventh, setting the stage for Viar's dramatics.  After Emily Boyle connected for an infield single, a costly error from ONU placed runners at second and third with one out.  Two batters later Viar then authored the game's winning hit with a single to right field giving the Saints the 4-3 victory.

The Saints scattered seven hits on the day, while Kaitlyn Schofield (16-9) picked up her 16th win of the season in the circle.  The junior hurler would strike out two Tiger hitters against three walks, while allowing seven hits in the contest.

Game 2:  USF 3, Calumet St. Joseph 2
In almost a mirror image of the first game, St. Francis (37-15) would spot its opponent a one-run lead before sliding ahead 2-1 one half inning later.  This time around, USF would score its third inning runs via a sacrifice fly from Emily Hurst and a RBI-single to centerfield from Landeros.

Back-to-back walks from starting pitcher Emily Boyle would quickly result in a tie score in the fourth after a single to centerfield plated one visiting runner to mark the score at 2-2 before Saldana connected for a two-out RBI double to plate Morgan Smardo who reached base after a dropped third strikeout.  Saldana's blast proved to be the difference in the end in the 3-2 ballgame with Boyle retiring nine of the remaining 13 batters she faced.

St. Francis' offense bested CCSJ's (13-31) hit-total with seven hits of its own in the contest.  Along with Saldana (three hits), Cook, Taylor, Landeros and Smardo were all credited with one base knock each.

Boyle (21-7) went the distance in the circle, striking out nine, while allowing just three hits against six walks for her 21st win of the season.

Up Next
The Saints, who are currently receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, will take on Indiana University South Bend in another elimination game on Friday (May 1) at 1 pm with the winner playing Saint Xavier University at 3:30pm.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.