SXU's Casas, USF's Boyle Net Weekly Softball Recognition

CHICAGO --- Jazmyn Casas (Berwyn, Ill.) represented Saint Xavier University and Emily Boyle (Union Grove, Wis.) the same for University of St. Francis on the awards stand when the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference announced its softball players of the week for the seven-day period ending March 1.

Casas hit .571 and drove in five runs in a doubleheader setback to NAIA No. 5-ranked Marian University (Ind.) to gain CCAC Player of the Week accord.  She went 4-for-7 in the doubleheader on Saturday, including 3-for-4 in the opener.  In that 11-8 loss, the sophomore infielder had a home run and drove in four runs.

The contests were the only two on the week for SXU, which is now 7-5 on the season.

Boyle's two wins and a save in the Saints' three victories over the weekend earned her CCAC Pitcher of the Week honors.  She also struck out 10 batters in her 13 innings of work.

Boyle's wins were both complete-game efforts versus Brescia University (Ky.).  In the first contest, a 10-3 win on Saturday, the junior struck out seven batters over her seven innings.

The other win came on Sunday in a five-inning 15-1 decision over the Bearcats.  Earlier that day, she registered a save with a one-inning relief appearance in USF's 3-1 victory.

Boyle also impressed at the plate, where she went 6-for-12 and collected at least one hit in each of her three games played.  Her best showing came in the second game of the doubleheader on Sunday, where she was a perfect 4-for-4 with a triple and three runs batted in.

St. Francis won three of its four games versus Brescia to move to 6-3 on the season.   

Other Player Nominees: Kylie Cook (St. Francis), Cynthia Alvillar (Judson), Jaylah Harlan (Indiana South Bend), Rylee Koeller (Viterbo), Emiley Stasko (Calumet St. Joseph).

Other Pitcher Nominees: Victoria Strines (Olivet Nazarene), Chelsea Herrick (Judson), Jacci Piper (Calumet St. Joseph), Elyse Starr (Indiana South Bend).