Day Three Recap

CALGARY – In what's quickly becoming a Thanksgiving tradition, the Western Mustangs softball team won their fourth consecutive Canadian Collegiate Softball Association National Championship on Monday afternoon, as they defeated the St. Clair College Saints 9-1 in only five innings to claim the championship banner.

Monday's win continues an undefeated season for the Mustangs, following up a 21-0 regular season with an additional five wins at the national championship. Western dominated each of their five games this weekend, defeating their opponents by a combined score of 49-4. Combining both regular season and playoffs, the Mustangs have put up 285 runs this season while only allowing 21.

After defeating the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, the University of Regina, and Humber College in round robin play, the Mustangs booked a trip directly to Monday's semi-finals, where they again matched up with the Humber Hawks.

In their second game in 24 hours, the result ended up the same, as Western dispatched the Hawks in five innings with a 7-0 win. Pitcher Rachael Jacques earned her second win of the tournament with a five-strikeout effort. The Barrie, Ont., native also helped her own cause at the plate, going one-for-two with a run scored and an RBI.

Shortstop Brittany Hicks led the Mustangs offence with two hits, two runs scored, and one run batted in.

After toppling the Hawks the Mustangs met up with St. Clair in a rematch of last year's national semi-final that saw Western walk away with a 5-1 win.

Despite facing off with the three-time defending national champions, the Saints were the first team on the board, scoring one run in the bottom of the first to be the first team all weekend to hold a lead on the Mustangs. That lead wouldn't last long however, as Western scored one run in the top of the second and two in the third to take a 3-1 advantage.

In the fourth inning the Mustangs broke the game open as six Western runners crossed the plate to take a 9-1 lead. The Mustangs offence registered seven hits, scored six runs, with only one runner left on base in the frame to take a commanding eight-run lead that they wouldn't relinquish, claiming a 9-1 win after five innings.

Stacie Cox got the win, her third of the tournament, after allowing only two hits, one run, and one walk, while striking out five in five innings pitched. Cox also got the job done at the plate, going a perfect three-for-three with two runs scored and one run batted in.

With their fourth straight national title now secured, the Mustangs will turn their attention to next weekend's Ontario Championships. Western hosts the three day event from October 17-19, and will be looking to win their fifth consecutive provincial title.

Day Two Recap

CALGARY, Alb. – The Western Mustangs women's softball team continued to roll through the competition on the second day of the CCSA National Championship as they picked up an 11-3 win over the Humber Hawks on Sunday. 

The win gave Western a perfect 3-0 record in round robin play, and gives the Mustangs a spot in the semi-finals on Monday.

Just as in their first game of the day on Saturday, the Mustangs started things off on the right foot, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Western then surrendered it's first run of the weekend as Humber's Bonnie Gillingham crossed the plate in the top of the third to cut Western's lead down to three runs. That wouldn't last long however, as the Mustangs immediately responded with another four runs in the bottom half of the inning to give them an 8-1 lead after three innnings. They further extended the lead with three more runs in the fourth inning. Humber fired back with two runs in the top of the fifth, however it wasn't enough as the Mustangs clinched a five-inning 11-3 victory.

Shannon Davidson was dominant at the plate against the Hawks, going two-for-three with five runs batted in, including hitting a grand slam in the third inning. Stacie Cox recorded her second win of the tournament, striking out five batters, while allowing five hits and four walks in five innings pitched.

Western now gets set for the semi-finals on Monday, where they'll once again be taking on Humber with the winner advancing to the gold medal game.

Day One Recap

CALGARY, Alb. – The Western Mustangs women's softball team moved closer to their fourth consecutive Canadian championship with a pair of wins on the first day of competition at the CCSA National Championship on Saturday.
 
Western kicked off their championship schedule with a contest against the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Trojans on Saturday morning. The Mustangs were dominant right from the first pitch, as the purple and white scored four runs in the first inning, four in the second, three in the third, and four in the fourth to make quick work of their opponents with a 15-0 win in just four innings.
 
Starting pitcher Rachael Jacques was nearly perfect, striking out four batters, while not allowing a hit and only surrendering one walk in four innings pitched. Jacques also got the job done at the plate, helping her own cause by going three-for-three with three runs scored.
 
Brittney Hicks led the purple and white offence with three hits in four trips up to the plate, adding three RBIs while scoring two runs of her own. Tricia MacKay and Jenn Wakefield joined hicks in the multiple RBI club as each player knocked in three runners against the Trojans.
 
The Mustangs returned to the field only a few hours later for a contest with the Regina Cougars. Just as in Western's first game of the day the Mustangs starting pitcher would again be nearly untouchable as Stacie Cox struck out five and allowed only one walk en route to a five inning no-hitter to give the Mustangs a 7-0 win.
 
Cox also had a strong day in the batter's box, going a perfect three-for-three with two runs scored, and one run batted in. Second baseman Shannon Davidson topped the Mustangs lineup sheet on the day, recording two hits, one run scored, with four RBIs.
 
With two wins already under their belts, the Mustangs will finish up round robin play on Sunday when they take on Humber College.