PULASKI, Ten. - On Saturday afternoon, the University of Saint Francis Cougars (0-4) took on the University of Southern Tennessee Firehawks (7-2) in Pulaski, splitting the series losing game one 5-10 and winning game two 6-0.

In the opening game, junior pitcher Casey Henry took the mound to start for the Cougars. The Cougars opened this game in the 1^st with a Sam Pesa single that allowed Jayden Lepper to score letting the Cougars lead 1-0. The Firehawks were quick to respond to the Cougars in the bottom of the second with a solo homerun, and a triple in the 3^rd that allowed them to lead 2-1. Nick Parsons would respond at the top of the fourth with a solo homerun to tie the game 2-2. Corey'ss day would end in the bottom of the fourth and the Firehawks took advantage of the pitching changes. The Firehawks scored on an error and two RBI singles to lead 5-2 in the 5^th. The Cougars quickly responded with 2 RBI singles by Jose Valdez-Sandoval and Kolton Cardenas cutting the deficit only to 5-4 in the top of the 6^th.

Unfortunately, the Firehawks put the hurt on the Cougars defense, as they scored off a wild pitch and a single 2-run RBI in the bottom of the 6^th making it 8-4. Following the wild pitch, the Firehawaks also cashed in on a solo homer and RBI single in the bottom of the 7^th which was the last offensive push from the Firehawks, as they sat comfortably with a 10-4 lead. While the Cougars tried to rally back in the top of the 8^th with a Jayden Lepper triple cutting the deficit to 5-10, it would not be enough. The Cougars surrendered the first game to the Firehawks 10-5 but shifted the momentum in game two.

In the second series, sophomore pitcher Lukas North took the mound and had a very impressive day for the Cougars. This game will hopefully be the turnaround the Cougars offense needed to officially start their season in the win column. Through five innings North commanded the mound allowing no runners to score and only three hits total on the day before being retired. The Cougars offense through those five innings would be humming with a single 2 run RBI by Jayden Lepper in the first that put the Cougars on the board 2-0. Then a pick-off error by the Firehawks allowed Sam Pesa and Eli Riley to steal and score making it 4-0 in the top of the 2^nd. Another Jayden Lepper double allowed the Cougars to score making it 5-0 before the 2^nd inning closed. David Miller would smack a solo homerun in the fourth making it 6-0 for the Cougars. But then once again, Jayden Lepper and his magic bat hit another RBI single allowing the Cougars to score making it 7-0 in the top of the 6^th. The Firehawks could not muster any kind of response allowing the Cougars to closeout in the top of the 8^th with a win of 7-0.

The Cougars will resume play today staying in Tennessee to take on the Firehawks again at the UT Stadium in Pulaski, Tennessee. The two-game series will begin with an 11:00am first pitch.

-Hayden Williamson-