VU's Carter-Olson, SXU's Strand Use Perfect Weeks To Claim Softball Accolades

CHICAGO --- Leading their respective teams to unbeaten weeks and being perfect themselves, Viterbo University's Marissa Carter-Olson (Oshkosh, Wis.) and Saint Xavier University's Lily Strand (Evergreen Park, Ill.) have been named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly softball award winners.  The league office made the announcement on Tuesday.

Strand earned her third CCAC Pitcher of the Week award this spring, going 3-0 with a near-spotless earned run average of 0.58.  In her 12 innings in the circle covering three games, she permitted just three hits, while striking out 15 batters.

The only run the junior pitcher allowed came in a 15-1 decision over Olivet Nazarene University last Tuesday, where she struck out eight batters in six innings.  That was followed by a combined no-hitter in a 16-0 triumph over Calumet College of St. Joseph on Friday.  Strand went the first three innings of that game and totaled five strikeouts against two walks.

She was also unscored upon in a 14-1 decision over Calumet St. Joseph on Saturday.  In that outing, she again went the first three innings without allowing a hit.

Saint Xavier remained unbeaten in the league (15-0) and is 26-9 overall following its 4-0 week.

Carter-Olson, meanwhile, used a perfect 6-for-6 report at the plate and reached base all eight times in two games she appeared in during the seven-day period ending April 5 to land CCAC Player of the Week recognition.  She also drove in five runs and scored four times in an 18-3 and 21-4 doubleheader sweep of Waldorf College (Iowa).

The senior catcher went 3-for-3 in both contests with four RBIs in last Wednesday's first game.  Her only extra-base hit – a double – came in the nightcap, where she scored three times. 

Viterbo is now 8-21 overall and 3-6 in the CCAC after its two-win week.  

Other Player Nominees: Kylie Cook (St. Francis), Danielle Goodman (Saint Xavier), Emily Michalak (Calumet St. Joseph), Peyton Norman (Indiana South Bend), Grace Pekoc (Judson).

Other Pitcher Nominees: Emily Boyle (St. Francis), Savannah Hamilton (Indiana South Bend), Jacci Piper (Calumet St. Joseph), Alexis Watson (Viterbo).