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.

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.

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.