Story by Rob Huizenga, Saint Xavier Sports Information

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Senior Nicole Nonnemacher added another amazing feat to an already overflowing list of career accomplishments Saturday as the No. 4 ranked Saint Xavier University softball team swept a pair of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) games from Saint Ambrose University (Iowa) at the SAU Softball Field in Davenport, Iowa.

The Cougars (24-4 overall/7-1 CCAC) won both games in extra frames claiming the first, 3-1, in nine innings and the second one, 2-0, in 12 innings. Nonnemacher struck out 22 batters in the opener and then racked up 20 more strikeouts in the late game becoming the first pitcher in NAIA softball history to log 20 or more strikeouts in multiple games. Her previous single game high for strikeouts was 19 against Robert Morris University (Ill.) on April 18, 2015.

In Saturday’s first game, the Fighting Bees took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI double to left field. Junior catcher Brittany Plimmer (Bloomingdale, Ill./Kankakee CC/Glenbard East) tied the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI single to centerfield. The game stayed tied and headed into extra frames before Saint Xavier got a huge two-out hit by senior third baseman Jessica Arebalo (Palos Heights, Ill./Kankakee CC/Stagg), a two-run single in the top of the ninth.

Nonnemacher struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to secure her 14th victory (14-1) of the season. She went all nine frames and allowed five hits, one run (earned) and a walk with her 22 strikeouts. Her strikeout total for the game is the second most in a game in NAIA softball history behind only the record of 26 set by Judson University’s (Ill.) Brianna Tennyson over 11 innings against Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) on April 24, 2013.

After 11 scoreless innings to start game two, senior centerfielder Kasey Kanaga (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) and Arebalo combined to drive in a pair of runs in the top of the 12th to propel SXU’s 2-0 victory. With one out in the inning, senior shortstop Rebeka Ferguson (Chatham, Ill./IPFW/Heartland CC/Glenwood) hit a double to the gap in left centerfield and Kanaga brought her home with a single to centerfield. Two batters later, Arebalo added an insurance run by bringing Kanaga home on a fielder’s choice.

Nonnemacher got the start and threw the first 10 innings giving up just three hits and a walk with 20 strikeouts. Junior Callie Brown (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) came in to throw the final two frames and allowed no hits or walks with one strikeout. Brown earned the win in relief to move her season record to 6-1.

Saint Xavier (24-4 overall/7-1 CCAC) continues conference play on Tuesday, April 12, with a road doubleheader against Judson University (Ill.). The first game of the pair is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start in Elgin, Ill.