Story by Rob Huizenga, SXU Sports Information

CHICAGO – It is hard to improve on perfection, but Saint Xavier (Ill.) junior Nicole Nonnemacher did just that Tuesday afternoon in SXU’s doubleheader sweep of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) foe Trinity International (Ill.) at SXU Softball Field in Chicago. Nonnemacher, the reigning CCAC Pitcher of the Week, threw a perfect game, the second of her collegiate career, and struck out all 15 Trojans she faced in the five-inning game en route to perfection.

The Cougars (31-3-2 overall/13-0-1 CCAC) won the first game, 9-0, and freshman pitcher Caroline Kuzel captured her first collegiate victory (1-0) on the mound with a 6-0 win in the late game.

Nonnemacher moved into the team lead for wins this season improving her mark to 15-2 on the year. Junior catcher Jessica Arebalo drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the first inning to plate the game’s first run. A sacrifice fly by junior shortstop Rebeka Ferguson in the bottom of the second made the score, 2-0. Senior first baseman Amanda Hainlen had a two-run single to left field in the third inning to highlight a four-run frame for the Cougars. Sophomore second baseman Savannah Kinsella posted a two-run double to left field and sophomore right fielder Kasey Kanaga added an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the fourth to complete the scoring.

Kuzel threw all seven innings of game two and allowed just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts en route to her first career shutout. Sophomore third baseman Franchesca Graffeo drove in SXU’s first run of the game with an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the first inning. Junior right fielder Denise Anderson had the big hit for the Cougars in the third inning with a two-run double after senior catcher Holly Hilden brought home the frame’s first run with an RBI single. Senior centerfielder Shannon Lauret had an RBI on an infield single in the sixth and Hilden drove in the final run on a groundout to finish up the scoring.

Saint Xavier (31-3-2 overall/13-0-1 CCAC) hosts NCAA Division II Lewis University (Ill.) on Wednesday, April 15, at SXU Softball Field. The first game of the non-conference doubleheader is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.