Saint Xavier University - News

[Softball] SXU Softball Breaks NAIA National Mark; Finishes With No. 7 Ranking

Rob Huizenga — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:20:00 -0600

CHICAGO – The secret to the extraordinary success of the Saint Xavier University softball team's 2013 campaign was not limited to the superb pitching performances of junior Megan Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) and freshman sister Nicole Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community). In fact, the Cougar defense was extremely impressive throughout the year as well to the tune of a NAIA-best .981 fielding percentage. However, not only was it the best fielding percentage by a NAIA team this season, but also the best single season fielding percentage in the history of NAIA softball. The mark surpasses the old national mark of .977 set by Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) rival Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) during the 2012 campaign. The Cougars also officially finished the 2013 season with a No. 7 national ranking when the 2013 NAIA Softball Coaches' Postseason Top 25 Poll was released Wednesday.

[Softball] Saint Xavier Softball Adds Decorated NCAA Division I Transfer

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:55:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Katie Sears, a former Mother McAuley and University of Evansville (Ind.) standout, recently signed a letter of intent to continue both her athletic and academic career at Saint Xavier University as a member of the Cougar softball program. The Chicago native transfers to SXU with two years of playing eligibility remaining and will join the Cougar roster as a junior outfielder for the 2014 campaign. Sears was coached at Mother McAuley by former Saint Xavier University softball standout Colleen Kilduff, who became SXU's first NAIA National Player of the Year in 2006 and was inducted into the SXU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

[Softball] SXU's Nonnemacher Sisters Clean Up With NAIA Postseason Awards

Rob Huizenga — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 12:45:00 -0600

Columbus, Ga. – Just days after wrapping up the best season in program history with a seventh-place national finish and a school record 50 wins (50-9 overall), the Saint Xavier University softball team put another exclamation point on its exceptional year by landing two players on the 2013 NAIA Softball All-America Teams when the awards were announced Friday following the NAIA Softball National Championship in Columbus, Ga. Freshman Nicole Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) claimed a spot on the first team in a utility role, while junior sister Megan Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) earned second team honors as a pitcher. Nicole becomes the first SXU softball player to earn first team All-America honors since 2006 when former standout and Hall of Famer ('09) Colleen Kilduff was named the NAIA Softball Player of the Year, the first athlete in the history of Saint Xavier Athletics to claim the national player of the year distinction. In addition, Nicole was also one of just 16 players named to the 2013 NAIA Softball All-Championship Team.

[Softball] SXU Softball Falls to No. 2 Lubbock Christian, 4-2; Ends Magical Season

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 27 May 2013 14:00:00 -0600

Columbus, Ga. – Freshman right-hander Nicole Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) and the No. 9 seeded Saint Xavier University softball team had No. 2 seed Lubbock Christian University (Texas) shut down for the first five innings of Monday's NAIA Softball National Championship final site match-up at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga. Unfortunately for the Cougars, the sixth inning was a different story as the Lady Chaps strung together three hits and four runs, all with two outs, to pull ahead for good in a 4-2 loss to end the SXU season. Saint Xavier ends its most productive season in program history with a school-record 50 wins (50-9 overall), a host of school records, its highest postseason finish (7^th overall) as well as the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) regular season and tournament titles and the NAIA National Championship Opening Round Portland site champion.

[Softball] Nicole Nonnemacher leads SXU Softball to 3-1 Victory Over Cal State-San Marcos

Rob Huizenga — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:40:00 -0600

Columbus, Ga. – Freshman pitcher Nicole Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) went the distance to earn a complete game victory as No. 9 seed Saint Xavier University defeated No. 5 seed Cal. State-San Marcos (Calif.), 3-1, in an elimination game at the 2013 NAIA Softball National Championship final site at the South Commons Softball Complex on Saturday, May 25. For the first time in school history, SXU softball posted its 50th victory of season. The Cougars (50-8 overall) advances in the loser's bracket of the double-elimination event and plays No. 2 seed Lubbock Christian (Texas) in an elimination game Monday (May 27) at 9 a.m. central. Cal. State-San Marcos concludes the 2013 season with a record of 43-12 overall.

[Softball] No. 9 Saint Xavier Softball Falls to No. 8 Reinhardt, 3-0

Rob Huizenga — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:40:00 -0600

Columbus, Ga. – A three-run second inning was the difference in the game between No. 9 Saint Xavier University and No. 8 Reinhardt University (Ga.) as the Cougars lost, 3-0, in the opening round of the 2013 NAIA Softball National Championship final site at the South Commons Softball Complex on Friday. SXU had its chances to score leaving nine runners on base. Freshman right fielder/pitcher Nicole Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) led the offense going 3-for-4 at the plate, including a double.

[Softball] Check Out the Photo Gallery from Day One of SXU Softball's Columbus, Ga. Trip

Rob Huizenga — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:25:00 -0600

Columbus, Ga. - After a long day of traveling Wednesday, the Saint Xavier University softball team spends its first full day in Columbus, Ga., in preparation for the NAIA Softball National Championship Tournament, which begins on Friday, May 24. The Cougars visited Dimon Elementary Magnet Academy in Columbus Thursday morning, had practice and then went the Banquet of Champions Thursday evening at the Georgia Convention Center. SXU takes on Reinhart University (Ga.) on 12:00 p.m. (central) Friday. Until the game, enjoy these photos from the first day of the trip in the photo gallery below.

[Softball] Mollohan, Nonnemacher Earn Capital One Academic Honors

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:55:00 -0600

Towson, Md. – Saint Xavier University senior third baseman Kate Mollohan (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) and junior pitcher Megan Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) both claimed spots on the 2013 Capital One Academic All-America® College Division Softball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Mollohan was the only member of this year's honorees to also earn first team recognition on the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America® College Division Softball Team. Nonnemacher was also a repeat selection as well after earning third team honors last spring. SXU was the only institution to have two players named to the 11-member first team. The Capital One Academic All-America® College Division Softball Team is comprised of student-athletes from NAIA, Canadian and two-year institutions.

[Softball] NAIA Softball National Championship Information Page

Rob Huizenga — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:20:00 -0600

CHICAGO - For fans either making the trip to Columbus, Ga., next week or planning to track the progress of the Saint Xavier University softball team at the NAIA National Championship final site, this page should be a helpful source of information. The team departs for Columbus, Ga., on Wednesday, May 22, by bus and will arrive in Georgia at some point that evening. All games will be played at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus with the tournament kicking off on the morning of Friday, May 24, and SXU scheduled to play at 1 p.m. (eastern). Listed below are a variety of links to help out either those fans planning to make the trip south or those who want to follow the action over the Internet. Go Cougars!

[Softball] Check Out the Photo Gallery From the Fifth and Final Day of SXU Softball's Portland Trip

Rob Huizenga — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:15:00 -0600

Portland, Ore. - The Saint Xavier University softball team claimed the NAIA Opening Round Portland Bracket championship Wednesday afternoon with a 10-2 victory over No. 11 ranked Corban University (Ore.) in the day's second championship game. With the win, SXU advances to the final site of the 2013 NAIA Softball National Championship and will join nine other teams for a double-elimination tournament in Columbus, Ga., starting on Friday, May 23. Here are the photos from Wednesday's championship! We hope you have enjoyed the photo galleries from the entire week and stay tuned for more as the Cougars advance to the final site. Go Cougars!

[Softball] Saint Xavier Softball Claims NAIA Opening Round Championship

Rob Huizenga — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 -0600

Portland, Ore. – After dropping Wednesday's first championship game against No. 11 ranked and No. 2 seeded Corban University (Ore.) by a score of 10-7 in eight innings, the No. 10 ranked and No. 1 seeded Saint Xavier University softball team came roaring back in the second game winning 10-2 in just five innings to claim the NAIA Softball Opening Round Tournament championship at Delta Park in Portland, Ore. Not only did the Cougars (49-7 overall) claim the title and the automatic berth to the NAIA Softball National Championship in Columbus, Ga., but the team captured the best single-season win total for the program surpassing the 2000 squad that went 48-12 overall. Freshman Nicole Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) was huge on the mound in Wednesday's second game as well as at the plate in both contests.

[Softball] Check Out The Photo Gallery From Day Four of SXU Softball's Portland Trip

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:25:00 -0600

Portland, Ore. - Here is the photo gallery for the Saint Xavier University softball team's fourth day in Portland, Ore., for the NAIA Softball Opening Round Tournament. The Cougars defeated No. 11 ranked Corban University (Ore.), 2-0, and advanced to Wednesday's tournament championship. After winning Tuesday, SXU had the afternoon off and did a little bit of sightseeing near Portland. Enjoy the photo's and go Cougars!

[Softball] Nonnemacher Throws Two-Hit Shutout, No. 10 SXU Wins 2-0 Over No. 11 Corban

Rob Huizenga — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:35:00 -0600

Portland, Ore. – Junior right-hander Megan Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) struck out 12 batters for the second straight game and allowed just two hits as the No. 10 ranked and No. 1 seeded Saint Xavier University softball team blanked No. 11 ranked and No. 2 seed Corban University (Ore.) Tuesday morning on the second day of action at the NAIA Softball Opening Round Tournament at Delta Park in Portland, Ore. The Cougars (48-6 overall) tied the best single season win total for the program (48) matching the 2000 squad that went 48-12 overall. With the victory, SXU advances to Wednesday's championship, which starts at 1 p.m. (central), with no tournament losses in the double-elimination event. Saint Xavier's runs came in the bottom of the second inning on back-to-back RBI singles by sophomores Shannon Lauret (Beach Park, Ill./Zion-Benton) and Megan James (Oak Forest, Ill./Marist). It was Nonnemacher's 10^th shutout of the season, a new career-high total.

[Softball] Check out the Photo Gallery from Day Three of SXU Softball's Portland Trip

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:10:00 -0600

Portland, Ore. - It was another productive day for the Saint Xavier University softball team Monday as the Cougars kicked off their first game of the NAIA Softball Opening Round Tournament with a 12-1 victory over MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) in five innings. After the game, the team made its way to downtown Portland to take in some of the city sites and get a bite to eat. Among the stops were dinner at the Thirsty Lion Irish Restaurant & Pub and a visit to Voodoo Donuts, a Portland landmark, for dessert. What a way to celebrate after a big postseason win! Go Cougars!

[Softball] Nonnemacher Strikes Out 12; No. 10 SXU Wins Big, 12-1

Rob Huizenga — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:15:00 -0600

Portland, Ore. – Junior right-hander Megan Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) struck out 12 batters en route to a convincing 12-1 victory for the No. 10 ranked and No. 1 seeded Saint Xavier University softball team over No. 4 seed MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) Monday afternoon in first round action of the NAIA Softball Opening Round Tournament at Delta Park in Portland, Ore. The Cougars (47-6 overall) racked up 10 hits on the offensive side led by three RBI apiece from sophomore left fielder Holly Hilden (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere North) and freshman right fielder Nicole Nonnemacher (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community). SXU advances to take on No. 11 ranked and No. 2 seed Corban University (Ore.) on Tuesday, May 14, at 12 p.m. (central) at Delta Park.