FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Saturday afternoon the University of Saint Francis Cougars (26-26; 15-21 Crossroads) wrapped up the 2022 regular season in Mishawaka, Indiana with a doubleheader against the Bethel University Pilots (25-27; 19-17 Crossroads) but despite a couple strong efforts dropped both games by scores of 5-3 and 2-1.

Sophomore Casey Henry took the mound to start the opener for the Cougars and got out of first inning trouble but could not escape a threat in the second as the Pilots tagged him for three hits and a couple runs to go ahead 2-0.

A sacrifice fly in the top of the third by center fielder Collin Landrum cut the lead to 2-1 and the Cougars threatened to tie it in the fifth loading the bases but could not break through.

Finally in the top of the sixth, shortstop Jayden Lepper smacked a pitch over the wall in left to tie the game at two all and Henry went out in the bottom of the frame and held the Pilots in check.

The sophomore hurler continued his tear through the Pilots lineup into the seventh but was taken out with two outs and the bases loaded, but freshman Andrew Kent snuffed them out as the game entered the eighth a tie game.

Then Lepper led off the frame with a single and catcher Tyler Rickert walked to set the table. Then with bases loaded and one out, first baseman Tyler Prince hit a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead.

But then the tide turned against the Cougars in the bottom of the eighth. The Pilots loaded the bases to open the inning, and after fielder's choice forced the first out at home, the next batter singled home the tying run. After the next batter struck out for the second out, a two-run single to left plated two more runs for the Pilots as they tallied three in the inning off four hits and held the Cougars from there as Saint Francis suffered a tough loss in the opener.

In the finale, the Cougars gave the ball to sophomore pitcher Hunter Frost.

The sophomore hurler did allow a solo home run to open the second inning but settled in from there and pitched brilliantly. His teammates then tied the game up in the third with a two-out RBI-single by David Miller.

After that, a pitcher's duel took place.

The Cougars managed just two hits through the first six innings, but the Pilots had managed only three themselves through five. But then in the bottom of the sixth, Frost retired the first two batters but then a walk and consecutive errors put the go-ahead run in scoring position. What followed was an RBI-single to give the Pilots the lead back at 2-1 but Frost held them from there.

The Cougars could not answer back in the seventh and dropped a tough 2-1 finale.

Despite the loss, the Cougars will now await their opponent and ranking in the 2022 Crossroads League tournament. Stay updated through Saintfranciscougars.com or by downloading the Saint Francis Cougars app.