Crane, Strand Provide Sweep of Softball Weekly Honors For Saint Xavier

CHICAGO --- Saint Xavier University made it a clean sweep of the second week of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference softball weekly awards on Tuesday when Fiona Crane (Evergreen Park, Ill.) and Lily Strand (Evergreen Park, Ill.) were recognized for their performances during the seven-day period ending Feb. 15.

Crane made headlines as the CCAC Player of the Week after stealing 16 bases over six games, including a school-record seven to close out the week.  The thefts came in a 9-1 win against Clarke University (Iowa) on Sunday, which is the second-most in NAIA history for one game.  She had another five steals on Saturday in a 16-3 win over Missouri Valley College.

The senior outfielder hit safely in each of the final five games of the week, including a pair of three-hit contests, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday in the Clarke victory.  In total, she delivered 12 hits in 21 at-bats (.571) with eight runs scored and two driven in.

Strand, meanwhile, earned her praise in the circle, where she did not allow an earned run in each of her two complete-game victories.  Those came over Clarke (7-0) on Saturday and in an upset of NAIA No. 11 Midland University (Neb.) (4-1) on Sunday. 

In the Clarke game, Strand struck out 11 batters and allowed only three hits.  In the Midland affair, she yielded just a pair of hits.

The junior went 2-1 on the week with a 2.33 earned run average and 18 strikeouts over her 18 innings.

Saint Xavier opened the season going 4-2 in the first week.

Other Player Nominees: Rheanna Slavicek (Olivet Nazarene), Cynthia Alvillar (Judson), Ella Chelminiak (Indiana South Bend), Kelsey Lovelace (Calumet St. Joseph), Jaelynn Taylor (St. Francis).

Other Pitcher Nominees: Emily Boyle (St. Francis), Madi Palmatier (Judson).