Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
Milwaukee, Wis. – Cardinal Stritch University battled with nationally ranked Saint Xavier University in both games. The Wolves came up short losing both games to the Cougars, 8-2 and 4-2.
Saint Xavier University looked to be jumping out to a fast start in the top of the second inning. Kayla Schlegel (New Berlin, Wis.) walked the first batter of the inning and hit the next to put two runners on base. Schlegel retired the next three batters on a fly out to left, strike out and a ground out to third to strand the runners on base.
The Cougars broke into the scoring column in the top of the third inning. Megan Paradzinski (Muster, Ind.) walked to lead off the third inning. She was advanced to second on a bunt. Ashley Hunter (Metamora, Ill.) drove Paradzinski home on a double. Courtney Murphy drove Hunter home on a single to put the Cougars up 2-0. After the top of the third was complete Stritch trailed 3-0.
Saint Xavier added on to their lead in the top of the fourth. Saint Xavier added to the lead on a RBI by Rebekah Ruettiger. The Cougars added one more in the top of the fourth to lead 5-0.
Before Stritch batted in the fifth the Cougars added one more run to lead 6-0. When the Wolves came up to bat they broke into the score column and the hit column on a home run by Hillary Trebiatowski (Plover, Wis.). That was all the Wolves would get in the inning. After the fifth inning Stritch trailed 6-1.
Stritch cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs Katie Giuffre (Hamilton, Wis.) singled to left. She then proceeded to steal second base. She scored when Brittany Rader (New Berlin, Wis.) reached on a mishandled catch by the first baseman. Stritch trailed 6-2 after six completed innings.
Saint Xavier added two more runs in the top of the seventh and Stritch had no answer in the bottom of the seventh. The final score of game one was 8-2. With the loss the Wolves dropped to 3-16 overall and 1-2 in the CCAC.
Saint Xavier came out in the top of the second inning of game to and opened up the scoring. After Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.), issued a walk to Lisa Gryczewski ( Mokena, Ill.) Brittany Hannigan (Palos Hills, Ill.) drove her home from first on a double to center field. That would be all the Cougars would score but they would lead 1-0 after two innings.
The Wolves found ways to get runners on base and their bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth. After being retired in order the first three innings, the first two batters walked to start the fourth. With Schlegel up Giuffre and Rader pulled a successful double steal. Kelly Gosselin drove in Giuffre to tie the game up at one. Trebiatowski drove in Rader on a single. After the inning was complete Stritch was ahead 2-1.
The Cougars battled back in the top of the seventh. The first two batters reached base by a hit by pitch and a walk. After the first two batters reached base Schlegel relieved Flock. The next batter reached base on an error to load the bases. Schlegel than struck out the next two batters in the inning. With two outs Saint Xavier broke threw to take the lead back from Stritch. After the top of the seventh Stritch trailed 4-2.
Stritch had no answer for the Cougars in the bottle of the seven and ended up dropping the game 4-2. With the loss the Wolves fell to 3-17 on the season and 1-3 in the CCAC. Saint Xavier improved to 23-7 and 12-0 in the CCAC.
The next game for Stritch is Tuesday April 13 when they travel to Olivet Nazarene. The Wolves return home next Thursday April 15 to take on Robert Morris. Game time is 3 PM.