April 7, 2008

Milwaukee, Wis. - Freshman centerfielder Megan Paradzinski (Munster, Ind./Munster) extended her current hit streak to 22 games setting a new school record as Saint Xavier University split a doubleheader with Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) softball action Saturday in Milwaukee, Wis.  SXU won the first game, 6-0, behind a no-hitter by sophomore Jalyn Shearer (Beecher, Ill./Beecher), but dropped game two, 4-1, after giving up three runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Former Cougar standout Colleen Kilduff held the previous streak of 21 straight games with a hit, which she set during the 2003 season.

Shearer was untouchable in Saturday's first game throwing all seven innings and allowing no hits or runs and just one walk.  She finished the game with eight strikeouts and improved to 7-5 overall on the season.  Paradzinski led the offensive attack going 4-for-5 at the plate with a RBI.  Senior catcher Aly Kelley (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and junior third baseman Gianna Pavone (Orland Park, Ill./St. Joseph's College) each went 2-for-4 with a RBI.  The Cougars finished with 10 hits in game one and did not commit an error in the field.

Three hits in the bottom of the first inning by the Wolves turned into three runs and spelled doom for Saint Xavier in a 4-1 game-two loss.  Freshman leftfielder Lisa Gryczewski (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the third to score freshman rightfielder Rachel Krabbe (Beecher, Ill./Beecher) from third base for SXU's lone run of the game.  Paradzinski led the Cougars with three hits.  Senior Ashley Shearer (Beecher, Ill./Beecher) took the loss (2-6 overall) allowing five hits, four runs (three earned), and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings of work.       

Saint Xavier (11-13 overall/7-5 CCAC) hosts CCAC rival University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Tuesday, April 8, at SXU Softball Field in Chicago.  The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.