University of St. Francis (III.)

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- The No. 2-seeded University of St. Francis softball team began the final day of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with a 7-4 win over No. 6 seed Indiana University South Bend, but the Fighting Saints could not double their luck in falling to No. 1 seed Saint Xavier University in the championship game by an 8-0 count later in the day on Friday afternoon.

The loss was the second for St. Francis in the double-elimination tournament, resulting in a second place finish for the Fighting Saints with Saint Xavier University claiming the 2026 CCAC Softball Tournament crown.  By finishing second in the tournament, however, and with the Cougars already securing their at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament as the league's regular season champion, USF's season will continue with the Saints gaining the conference's second national tournament bid per league by-laws.

Emily Hurst (5-for-6) authored five hits over the two contests, while Sarah Viar (2-for-7, 1 RBI) and Isabella Landeros (2-for-5) also registered hits in each end of the twinbill.  Missy Saldana also had a productive day at the plate, with her 3-of-5, 2 RBI showing against Indiana South Bend.

Game 1: USF 7, Indiana South Bend 4
USF's offense exploded for six hits to score five runs in the second inning with Morgan Smardo (double, 1 RBI), Saldana (single, 2 RBI) and Viar (double, 1 RBI) providing the run-producing hits which all came after two outs.

IUSB would quickly regroup, however, to plate two runs of its own in its half of the second inning, but Emily Boyle and Jaelynn Taylor would later gain those runs back for USF after taking credit for adding two insurance runs to the Saints' tally in both the third and fourth frames, respectively, on matching two-out singles to centerfield to increase St. Francis' lead to 7-2.

That lead would hold until the seventh inning when the Titans made things interesting  by loading the bases with no outs after they connected for two singles and a walk to begin the stanza.  Another single would follow to mark the score at 7-3 before a huge defensive double play off a pop up to second base would result in the Titans' having runners at the corners with just one out remaining to work with.  IUSB refused to go down without a fight, registering another single to bring in its fourth run of the game, but the rally was cut short one batter later with the final Titan falling victim to a strikeout to end the game.

Boyle (22-7) gained the win in the circle in her 16th complete game effort of the season.  The junior would scatter 10 hits while allowing four earned runs with five strikeouts against five walks in the contest.

Saldana (3), Hurst (3), Boyle (3), Taylor (2) and Smardo (2) each had multiple hits as part of USF's 16-hit attack.

Game 2: Saint Xavier 8, USF 0  (5 innings)
Scoring multiple runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings, NAIA No. 21-ranked Saint Xavier made quick work against the Saints in the championship game with an 8-0 mercy rule victory.
 
The Cougars (40-12) put up two runs in the second inning before scoring three more in the third and adding three additional tallies in the fourth to induce a mercy rule victory.

The Saints had their own chance to get out in front early, using two first-inning singles to put a runner in scoring position with two outs.  SXU starting pitcher Lily Strand was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout, however, to end the threat.  It was the only one recorded on the day by the winning pitcher.

Hurst provided two of the four hits in the game for St. Francis, which was shutout for the sixth time this spring.  Viar and Landeros connected for the other two.

Up Next
With receiving the conference's second automatic bid, USF, who is currently receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, punches its ticket to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, which will be held May 11-14.  Head coach Alyssa Moreno's club will find out which of the ten sites hosting the Saints will be assigned on Wednesday, May 6 at 5 pm.

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