MARION, Ind. -- On Monday afternoon, The University of Saint Francis Cougars (16-18, 11-11 Crossroads League) took on the Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats (26-11-1, 21-3 Crossroads League) in a doubleheader series losing both games by scores of 7-11 and 1-24.

In the first game of the series, Casey Henry started on the mound for the Cougars. The Cougars got off to a hot start on offense as Ayden Lichtensteiger would hit an RBI single and David Miller a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 in the 1st. Then, an Xavier Croxton single in the 2nd would add onto the lead making it 3-0. But, the Wildcats offense eventually woke up and responded with 2 singles and a homerun to tie the game, 3-3. The Cougars would respond yet again with another single to make it 4-3 in the 4th, but after this, it would be mostly downhill for the Cougars offense. The Wildcats managed to score in the 4th off an error which would tie it 4-4. Then a Wildcat solo homerun came in the 7th making it 5-4. Then the Wildcats offense would put its foot on the gas in the 8th with a single, a walk, and a grand slam making it 4-11. The Cougars tried to rally in the 9th off a Sam Pesa 2-run RBI single and a Nick Parsons steal to make it 7-11, but it would not be enough as the Cougars fell 7-11 in the first game of the series.

In the second series, Riley Perlich started on the mound for the Cougars. This series would not be the offense showcase the Cougars hoped for as the Wildcats managed to dominate most of the series. The game two series would open with the Wildcats scoring off a solo homerun, 4 singles, a 3-run RBI double, and an error making it 0-9 in the 1st. The Wildcats would extend their lead in the 2nd off another solo homerun, a walk, an error, a steal, and a 2-run RBI single to make it 0-15. Then the Wildcats would add a 2-run homerun to make it 17-0 in the 3rd. After a Wildcats walk in the 4th however, the Cougar offense would respond with Eli Riley hitting a single making the deficit 1-18. However, the Wildcats would continue to add to their lead scoring off a single to make it 19-1 in the 5th. Then the Wildcats offense would end its day scoring off a walk, an error, and a 3-run RBI double making it 24-1. The Cougars offense could not find any response, losing the second game of the series to the Wildcats 24-1.

The Cougars next road series will be against The University of Northwest Ohio in Lima, Ohio at Racer Field with a 3:00pm first pitch. UNOH is a nonconference match-up as they compete in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference with USF's cross-town Rival, Indiana Tech.

Happy Easter 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-