Saint Xavier Sets Itself Up For Sixth Straight Softball Tournament Title

CROWN POINT, Ind. --- Top-seeded Saint Xavier University put itself in position to claim its sixth straight Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament title with a resounding 19-0 victory over No. 6 seed Indiana University South Bend on Thursday.  With the win, the Cougars (40-12) are the only remaining unbeaten team in the field.

The only other teams left standing are No. 2 seed University of St. Francis (37-15) and Indiana South Bend.  The former rebounded nicely from its first-day upset loss with a pair of one-run victories over No. 4 Olivet Nazarene University (4-3) and No. 8 Calumet College of St. Joseph (3-2).

St. Francis and IUSB will square off at 1 pm Friday, vying for the league's second automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships Opening Round.  The winner would do so by virtue of placing second in the tournament or winning it outright with Saint Xavier having already earned the first bid.

The winner of the 1 pm tilt faces Saint Xavier at 3:30 pm for the title.  An if-necessary game would be played on Saturday at noon should St. Francis or Indiana South Bend win twice on Friday.    

The complete schedule and results follow:

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Game #1: No. 6 seed Indiana South Bend 7,  No. 3 seed St. Ambrose 5
Game #2: No. 7 seed Trinity Christian 6, No. 2 seed St. Francis 5
Game #3: No. 4 seed Olivet Nazarene 4, No. 5 seed Viterbo 0
Game #4: No. 1 seed Saint Xavier 10, No. 8 seed Calumet St. Joseph 2 --- 6 Innings
Game #5: No. 2 seed St. Francis 4, No. 3 seed St. Ambrose 3
Game #6: No. 8 seed Calumet St. Joseph 14, No. 5 seed Viterbo 13 --- 8 Innings
Game #7: No. 6 seed Indiana South Bend 9, No. 7 seed Trinity Christian 3
Game #8: No. 1 seed Saint Xavier 9, No. 4 seed Olivet Nazarene 1

Thursday, April 30, 2026
Game #9: No. 2 seed St. Francis 4, No. 4 seed Olivet Nazarene 3
Game #10: No. 8 seed Calumet St. Joseph 7, No. 7 seed Trinity Christian 4
Game #11: No. 1 seed Saint Xavier 19, No. 6 seed Indiana South Bend 0
Game #12: No. 2 seed St. Francis 3, No. 8 seed Calumet St. Joseph 2

Friday, May 1, 2026
Game #13: No. 2 St. Francis (37-15) vs. No. 6 seed Indiana South Bend (16-29) --- 1 pm
Game #14: Winner-Game #13 vs. No. 1 seed Saint Xavier (40-12) --- 3:30 pm (Championship)

Saturday, May 2, 2026
Game #15: Winner-Game #14 vs. Loser-Game #14 --- 12 pm (If necessary)