SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) baseball team went 2-2 against Spring Arbor University in a four-game road series on April 11-12 to move to 17-11 in Crossroads League play. 

USF took both games from SAU on Friday, winning game one 6-1 before escaping with game two 1-0. Spring Arbor rallied on Saturday to win both games by final scores of 3-2 and 5-7.

SAINT FRANCIS 6, SPRING ARBOR 1

• In the bottom of the third inning, a home run hit to left field gave SAU a 1-0 lead.
• The score remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh inning when Sam Pesa singled through the left side, scoring Xavier Nolan and tying the game at 1-1.
• An RBI double from Ayden Lichtensteiger put Saint Francis on top 2-1 in the eighth inning.
• The USF Cougars added four more runs in the top of the ninth inning, extending their lead to 6-1. The inning was highlighted by an RBI single from Kasen Oribello and a three-run double to left-center from Lichtensteiger.
• USF held Spring Arbor scoreless in the bottom half of the ninth to secure a 6-1 win in the first game of their four-game series.
• Saint Francis recorded eight hits, with both Lichtensteiger and Pesa both going 2-4 at the plate. Lichtensteiger had two doubles and a team-high four RBI. Pesa, Brenden Lytle and Jayden Lepper each contributed with an extra-base hit, while Nolan recorded a stolen base.
• Lukas North earned the win on the mound, striking out six batters while scattering six hits in a complete nine innings pitched.

SAINT FRANCIS 1, SPRING ARBOR 0

• Saint Francis and Spring Arbor played through four scoreless innings until Callan Stauffer singled to left field, bringing in Eli Riley and giving USF a 1-0 lead.
• Strong pitching and defensive efforts of the USF Cougars kept Spring Arbor off the scoreboard, allowing USF to secure a 1-0 victory in game two.
• As a team, USF had three hits. Riley and Stauffer both hit 1-3, with Stauffer driving in Saint Francis' one run. Nolan and Lepper both had a stolen base.
• Gage Smith threw the complete game shutout, striking out four batters while only allowing three hits and no walks. 

SPRING ARBOR 3, SAINT FRANCIS 2

• A sacrifice fly from Oribello gave USF the early 1-0 lead in the third inning. 
• Spring Arbor was able to bring in two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 2-1 in favor of SAU. 
• Lytle singled to right field to score Payton Fulton and tie the game up 2-2 in the top of the ninth inning. 
• In the bottom half of the last inning, Spring Arbor hit a walk-off home run to win Saturday's first game 3-2.
• Saint Francis had seven hits and a walk. Lytle went 2-4 at the plate with an RBI. Pesa had a double down the leftfield line, while Nolan had another stolen base. 
• Blaine McRae got the start on the mound, recording five strikeouts and five hits in eight innings pitched. 
• Andrew Kent took the loss after throwing the final inning in relief.

SPRING ARBOR 7, SAINT FRANCIS 5

• In the second and third innings, Spring Arbor scored three runs to take an early 3-0 lead. 
• USF responded in the fourth inning with a two-run homer by Oribello, narrowing Spring Arbor's lead to 3-2.
• In the fifth inning, Lepper and Pesa each hit RBI singles up the middle, putting USF ahead 4-3.
• SAU regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs through a fielder's choice, a single, and a double, bringing the score to 7-4.
• An RBI single from Lepper brought in another run for USF in the top of the seventh inning, but Saint Francis's rally would be cut short as Spring Arbor won Saturday's second game 7-5. 
• As a team, the USF Cougars had 11 hits. Pesa was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Lepper and Oribello hit 2-4 with two RBI each. Nolan also went 2-4 at the plate with two runs scored, a double and a stolen base. 
• On the pitching side, Perry Stow, Bryce Adams, and Gavin Noble combined for four strikeouts over five innings.

Up next, USF baseball (20-20, 17-11) will face Indiana Tech in a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 15 starting at 5:00 p.m. 

Cougar fans can stay updated on all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com.