MISHAWAKA, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) baseball team won three out of four games in a Crossroads League series against Bethel University on April 17 and April 19.

The Cougars and Pilots split Thursday's doubleheader, with USF winning game one 13-4 before dropping game two 4-1. On Saturday, USF picked up two more wins. The Cougars battled, winning the first game 5-4. Saint Francis then beat Bethel by a final score of 4-2 in the series finale. 

SAINT FRANCIS 13, BETHEL 4

• After the Pilots drove in a run in the bottom of the first inning, the Cougars used a two-run single from Aaron Miranda and a two-run double from Sam Pesa, taking a 4-1 lead in the top of the second.
• Bethel fought back, bringing in two more runs in the bottom of the second to narrow the Cougars' lead to 4-3.
• Saint Francis extended its lead by scoring four additional runs in the third and fourth innings.
• An RBI single in the bottom of the fifth allowed Bethel to score again, making the score 8-4. 
• In the top of the sixth inning, senior catcher Eli Riley led off with a home run to left field, increasing the Cougars' lead to 9-4.
• A two-run single from Brenden Lytle and an RBI single from Ayden Lichtensteiger in the seventh inning, followed by the Cougars capitalizing on a Bethel error to drive in another run in the top of the ninth inning, to make it an 11-run game.
• After holding the Pilots scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, Saint Francis won game one by a final score of 13-4. 
• The Cougars recorded 13 hits and 11 walks in Thursday's first game. Lichtensteiger went a perfect 4-4 at the plate with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Lytle hit 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Miranda led with three RBI, while Pesa drove in two runs. Jayden Lepper had two stolen bases, two runs scored and an RBI against the Pilots.
• Lukas North earned the win on the mound after striking out five batters, scattering seven hits and only allowing three runs in six innings pitched. 
• Gavin Noble struck out a pair of batters and held Bethel to one hit in three innings of relief. 

BETHEL 4, SAINT FRANCIS 1 

• Pesa hit a single to shortstop, scoring Xavier Nolan and giving USF an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of Thursday's second game.
• Bethel responded by bringing in three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a two-run lead. 
• The Pilots extended their advantage with a single to left field that added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
• Saint Francis was held scoreless for the remainder of the game, and Bethel won game two with a final score of 4-1.
• As a team, USF had five hits and two walks. Callan Stauffer and Xavier Gonsalves both went 1-2 at the plate with a walk each. Gonsalves also had a stolen base, while Pesa hit 1-3 with an RBI. 
• Gage Smith took the loss as the Cougars' starting pitcher. Smith recorded five strikeouts, four hits and one earned run in five innings on the mound. 

SAINT FRANCIS 5, BETHEL 4

• Lytle reached first base on a fielder's choice that scored Nolan and gave USF the 1-0 advantage in the first inning. 
• In the third inning, Pesa drove in another run, extending the score to 2-0 in favor of Saint Francis.
• Riley hit a sac fly in the top of the sixth inning to score Lepper, increasing the Cougars' lead to 3-0.
• Bethel managed to put a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh inning, but USF responded with an RBI single from Lepper to center field in the top of the eighth, bringing the score to 4-1.
• The Pilots scored three more runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning to tie the game up at 4-4. 
• With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, AJ Patton hit an RBI single to score Stauffer and give Saint Francis back the lead. 
• Saint Francis held the Pilots off to win Saturday's first game 5-4 and take a 2-1 series lead. 
• The Cougars had eight hits in Saturday's first game, with Nolan going 2-3 at the plate with three runs scored, a double and a stolen base. Stauffer and Lepper both hit 2-4 with a combined two runs scored and two stolen bases. Lepper, Riley and Lytle all also drove in a run each. 
• Blaine McRae retired five batters and allowed five hits in eight innings as USF's starting pitcher. 
• Cameron Niedens got the win after holding Bethel scoreless in an inning of relief. 

SAINT FRANCIS 4, BETHEL 2

• The Pilots opened the series finale with two RBI singles, taking an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.
• Saint Francis fought back, tying the game and taking a one-run lead in the top of the fourth inning. An RBI double from Pesa, a sac fly from Stauffer and an RBI single from Lytle highlighted the inning for the Cougars. 
• Riley led off the top of the sixth inning with a homer to center field to extend USF's lead to 4-2. 
• The Cougars then kept the Pilots off the scoreboard for the rest of the game, securing a two-run victory and improving their record to 20-12 in league play.
• Saint Francis had seven hits and two walks in Saturday's second game. Riley went 2-3 at the plate with his ninth home run of the season. Lepper and Pesa hit 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored each. Pesa and Nolan also contributed a double each. 
• On the mound, Perry Stow got the win after holding Bethel scoreless and giving up just two hits while striking out two batters in five innings of relief for the Cougars.

Up next, the Cougars (23-22, 20-12) will conclude the regular season with a four-game series against Goshen College at home on April 25-26. Saturday will also be Senior Day for USF baseball. 

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