Cougars Make History in Crossroads League Tournament
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marian | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 3 |
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | X | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
|
Taylor (IN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | X | 7 | 6 | 2 |
UPLAND, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) baseball team traveled to Taylor University for the Semifinal and Final rounds of the Crossroads League Tournament on Monday, May 6.
The Cougars made history after defeating Marian University 7-5 to earn an automatic bid to the NAIA Championships for the first time in school history. With the win, USF also advanced to the Championship Game of the league tournament to face the top seeded Taylor Trojans.
#3 SAINT FRANCIS 7, #6 MARIAN 5
- The Knights were the visitors on the scoreboard in Monday afternoon's contest, plating an early run off an RBI single to take the 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning.
- Saint Francis was quick to answer, scored three runs in the bottom of the 1st thanks to a two-run single down the left field line by Ayden Lichtensteiger and a passed ball to score Callan Stauffer.
- Marian was not finished as the Knights brought in three more runs to retake the 4-3 lead in the 3rd and 4th innings.
- The Cougars were able to take the lead for good in the bottom of the 5th off two RBI singles by Brenden Lytle and Xavier Croxton.
- USF's offensive attack continued as Stauffer had an RBI walk to put the Cougars up 6-4 in the 6th inning.
- Another RBI from Croxton in the 8th extended Saint Francis's lead to three runs.
- The Knights would score again in the top of the 9th, but their rally would fall short as the Cougars made history with a 7-5 victory in their first game of the night.
- Lichtensteiger went 2-2 at the plate with two RBI, while Croxton hit 1-4 against the Knights with two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base.
- Stauffer hit 1-2 with two runs cored and three walks.
- Lukas North got the start on the mound for USF, recording four strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched.
- Deron Swanson earned his 10th win of the season as he threw 3.0 innings of relief, striking out three batters and allowing just one run. Perry Stow was credited for the save, also striking out three batters and allowing just one hit in 3.0 innings of work.
# 1 TAYLOR 7, #3 SAINT FRANCIS 4
- Saint Francis was the visiting team in the Crossroads League Championship game on Monday night.
- After three scoreless innings, the Cougars got on the scoreboard first after Nick Parsons hit a two-run homerun to left field in the top of the 4th inning. Lytle followed with an RBI single to center field to put the Cougs up 3-0.
- Taylor put a run on the board in the bottom of the 5th, but Saint Francis was not done as Lytle brought in Lichtensteiger to give Saint Francis the 4-1 advantage in the 6th.
- The Trojans scored five runs in the 6th and 7th innings to retake the 6-4 lead. Taylor would again score in the bottom of the 8th to make the score 7-4 as the Trojans secured the three-run win and the 2024 Crossroads League Tournament title.
- Parsons went 1-4 at the plate with two RBI and a homerun, while Lytle hit 1-4 with two RBI.
- Eli Riley hit 1-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases.
- Croxton also had a stolen base for the Cougars.
- Graham Kelham pitched 5.1 innings as the starter for USF. He struck out four batters while only giving up four hits and two walks.
Saint Francis baseball earned a bid to the NAIA Championships and will find out their opponent and location for the opening round of the national tournament on Thursday, May 9.
Cougar fans stay updated with all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com or by downloading the Saint Francis Cougars app.
