FORT WAYNE, Ind. - On Saturday afternoon, the University of Saint Francis Cougars (6-4) wrapped up their four-game series against the University of Pikeville Bears (7-9) but couldn't carry their momentum over from Friday dropping both games by scores of 8-7 and 7-5.

In the opener, sophomore Casey Henry took the mound to start for the Cougars and surrendered a first-inning run, but held steady from there.

The Cougars tied and took the lead in the top of the second off of a single, walk, and a fielding error by the Bears, and they kept their 2-1 lead through the next two innings.

But come the bottom of the fourth, the Bears hit consecutive doubles off Henry to tie the score and took the lead as the Cougars made a fielding error of their own as Pikeville went ahead 3-2. 

Come the fifth, the Cougars answered back. Second baseman Jose Valdes-Sandoval ledoff with a walk, and Saint Francis proceeded to load the bases with two out. Then first baseman Tyler Prince delivered with a hit down the left field line that emptied the bases as the Cougars surged back ahead 5-3. 

In the top of the sixth, the Cougars added a couple insurance runs to lead 7-3, but then the Bears came to life. In the bottom of the frame, they got to Henry, loading the bases with nobody out. What followed was a bases-clearing double to pull Pikeville to within one run, driving Henry from the game.

Later in the inning with two outs and the tying run on third, the Bears came through with a clutch hit to tie the score at seven.

After the Cougars failed to score in the top of the seventh, a hit batsman followed by a walk started the bottom of the frame for the Bears setting the table for a walkoff win. With two outs, a single through the shortstop hole gave Pikeville the win as the Cougars' four-game winning streak was snapped.

Then in the first inning of the second game, both teams picked up where they left off with the bats. The Cougars plated a couple runs in the top thanks to an RBI-groundout by designated hitter David Miller and a fielding error by the Bears to lead 2-0.

But in the bottom of the first, the Bears answered back. The first five batters reached base and plated four runs on three hits and two errors to surge ahead 4-2. 

Saint Francis got a run back in the second, but the Bears doubled the lead back in the bottom of the third. A two-run home run off Cougars starter Cory Wolter put Pikeville ahead 6-3, but the Cougars didn't go quietly.

A couple hit batsmen to leadoff the top of the fifth pulled the Cougars to within two runs, and a two-out RBI-triple by left fielder Alec Brunson pulled them to within one, now trailing just 6-5.

But in the bottom of the fifth, the Bears added an insurance run, and the Cougars could not produce any more offense as they had to settle for a series split.

The Cougars resume play on Friday when they travel to Kokomo, Indiana for a road doubleheader against the IU Kokomo Cougars (3-4) beginning at 11:00 am.