Cougars Earn 1st Conference Win in Split with the Foresters
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
|
Huntington | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
HUNTINGTON, Ind. -- On Thursday afternoon, The University of Saint Francis Cougars (6-12: 1-5) took on the Huntington University Foresters (11-6, 5-1 CL) splitting the Thursday series with a 10-8 loss and a 6-5 victory.
In the first game, Lukas North earned the start on the mound for the Cougars. The Cougars started off hot and ready to score some runs to start the game. In the top of the 2nd Nick Parsons hit an RBI that sent a Cougar home making it 1-0. Then a David Miller single, Xavier Croxton single, and a Sam Pesa steal on a wild pitch in the 3rd added to the Cougars lead making it 4-0. North's day on the mound would end with no runs earned through his tenure. The Foresters however, struck back quickly, hitting a sacrifice fly, a 2-run RBI single, an RBI, and advancing on a pitching error to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the 3rd.
The Cougars fought again in the 5th scoring off a fielder's choice, a wild pitch, and a walk to go up 7-5. But, the Foresters quickly rallied with a solo homerun, 3-run RBI double, and an RBI triple to make it 7-10 in their favor. Jayden Lepper tried to rally the team back with a single making it 8-10, but fell short ending Game 1, 8-10 in a loss for USF.
In the second game, Blaine McRae took the mound to start for the Cougars. The Foresters scored first from an RBI single and an RBI triple in the first two innings making it 2-0. The Cougars learned from their mistakes in the first game and rallied with a Sam Pesa 2-run homerun and 3 RBI singles making it 5-2. A quick response in the bottom of the 3rd would come from the Foresters off an RBI double making it 5-4. The Cougars were able to rally fast in the 5th,with an RBI single making it 6-3. The last bit of Forester offense would come off an RBI triple making it 6-5, but McRae would shutdown the Forester offense and secure a win for the Cougars.
The Cougars next series will be Saturday in Huntington, Indiana against the Foresters with a 1PM first pitch. Overall, USF sits at 6-12, and earned their first conference win to sit at 5 losses and 1 win in the Crossroads League.
Cougar fans stay updated with all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com or by downloading the Saint Francis Cougars app.
-Hayden Williamson-