FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Thursday afternoon, the University of Saint Francis Cougars (20-17; 9-13 Crossroads) traveled to Mount Vernon, Ohio to face the Mount Vernon Nazarene University Cougars (21-11; 16-5 Crossroads) in the first two of four games and split the doubleheader dropping the opener 7-6 in 12 innings before claiming the victory 8-3 in the finale.

In the opening game, right fielder Xavier Nolan led off the game with a home run to left field appearing to give the Cougars the spark they needed despite Mount Vernon tying the game in the bottom of the frame.

Then in the top of the fourth, the Cougars went back ahead scoring two runs on two hits and an error, giving sophomore starter Casey Henry a 3-1 lead to work with. But then in the bottom of the fifth, Mount Vernon finally got to Henry as they two runs on two hits themselves.

A seesaw game continued into the eighth with the Cougars scoring a couple more on a two-run home run by freshman Andrew Kent, only to have it evaporated in the bottom of the frame with a bases-loaded walk and RBI-groundout.

Neither team would score again for three more innings as the opener went to extras tied at six. Unfortunately for the Cougars, Mount Vernon finished off the rally in the bottom of the 12^th as a leadoff single would come around to score on a two-out game-winning single to right as the Cougars' losing streak reached nine games.

Come the second game, freshman pitcher Cory Wolter took the mound determined to bring the losing streak to an end. In the top of the first, the Cougars were determined when they plated two runs as they took advantage of two errors, a hit batsman, and a walk before making the first out.

But in the bottom of the first, Mount Vernon answered right back with a base hit, walk, and a three-run home run before Wolter recorded the first out, and then he settled in from there.

Then in the top of the third, the Cougars answered back with three more runs of their own with two scoring on a two-out throwing error by Mount Vernon to regain the lead 5-3. Three more runs in the top of the sixth appeared to put the Cougars in good hands to finish off Mount Vernon for a split.

Wolter went out to finish what he started and despite loading the bases, recorded the final three outs to preserve the 8-3 victory and snap the losing streak at nine games. Wolter was the star of the second game as he allowed three runs on nine hits in seven innings pitched while striking out four batters.

The Cougars and Mount Vernon will conclude their four-game series in Spring Arbor Saturday afternoon with the doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.