MARION, Ind. - The Cougars of the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) traveled to Indiana Wesleyan University for a four-game Crossroads League series with the Wildcats on March 13-14. The Cougars dropped the first two games on Friday before bouncing back to take the opener on Saturday, with the Wildcats winning the series finale.

INDIANA WESLEYAN 29, SAINT FRANCIS 4 - 7 INNINGS

• Ayden Lichtensteiger stepped into the box with two outs and hit a home run to put the Cougars on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning.
• Indiana Wesleyan responded in the bottom of the second with six runs to take a 6-1 lead.
• An RBI single to center field in the top of the third drove in another run for Saint Francis, cutting the Wildcats' lead to four.
• Indiana Wesleyan followed with two big innings in the third and fourth to extend its advantage to 16-2.
• A bases-loaded walk in the top of the fifth plated the Cougars' third run of the game to make it 16-3.
• The Wildcats added 13 more runs across the fifth and sixth innings to push the score to 29-3.
• Saint Francis plated another run in the top of the seventh thanks to a home run from Cole Kintz.
• Indiana Wesleyan secured the 29-4 victory to improve to 4-4 in Crossroads League play.
• The Cougars finished with six hits and nine walks in game one on Friday. Lichtensteiger, Kintz, Xavier Nolan and Ashten Tuttle each recorded an RBI.
• On the mound, Perry Stow took the loss after throwing 2.1 innings, striking out three batters while allowing eight hits.

INDIANA WESLEYAN  10, SAINT FRANCIS 7 - 7 INNINGS

• With one out and a runner on second, Kintz hit his second home run of the day in the first inning to give Saint Francis an early 2-0 lead.
• Indiana Wesleyan answered in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs to take a 4-2 lead.
• A home run and a sacrifice fly extended the Wildcats' lead to 6-2 in the second and third innings.
• The Cougars pulled within three runs with a two-run single to right field in the top of the fifth inning.
• After Indiana Wesleyan added another run in the bottom half of the fifth, Saint Francis cut the Wildcats' lead to two with a two-run double in the sixth to make it 9-7.
• Indiana Wesleyan capitalized on an error in the bottom half of the inning to secure the 10-7 victory.
• The Cougars recorded seven hits and seven walks in game two. Kintz went 2-3 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBI and a home run. Lichtensteiger had a double, while Kasen Oribello and Zavier Edgar each drove in two runs.
• On the mound, Curtis Ellis was credited with the loss after throwing 3.1 innings as the Cougars' starter, striking out four batters while allowing nine hits and eight runs. Bryce Adams struck out five batters in 2.0 innings of relief.

SAINT FRANCIS 8, INDIANA WESLEYAN 6

• In the top of the second inning, a two-run single to left field gave Saint Francis an early 2-0 lead.
• Indiana Wesleyan tied the game with runs in the second and sixth innings.
• In the top of the seventh inning, the Cougars used a bases-loaded walk, a sacrifice fly and two RBI singles to retake the lead, making the score 6-2.
• Saint Francis carried the momentum into the eighth inning, plating three more runs to extend its lead to 9-2.
• Indiana Wesleyan tried to rally, scoring four runs across the eighth and ninth innings to cut the Cougars' lead to 9-6, but Saint Francis held off the Wildcats to win Saturday's first game.
• The Cougars recorded 10 hits and six walks in game three of the series. Kintz and Jordan Davis both went 2-5 at the plate. Davis finished with a double and two RBI. Oribello also had a double and two RBI, while Lichtensteiger and Andrew Zellers combined for three RBI. AJ Patton added a stolen base.
• On the mound, Jayden Nuber earned the win after striking out three batters while allowing five hits in 5.1 innings pitched. Luke Siren recorded the save after striking out one batter and holding Indiana Wesleyan to two hits in 1.0 inning of relief.

INDIANA WESLEYAN 11, SAINT FRANCIS 2 - 7 INNINGS

• Saint Francis struck first in the top of the first inning on a groundout to shortstop that brought home a run.
• Indiana Wesleyan responded in the bottom half of the inning with four runs to take a 4-1 lead.
• The Wildcats added four more runs in the second inning to push their advantage to 8-1.
• The Cougars plated another run in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 8-2.
• Indiana Wesleyan added three more runs across the third and sixth innings to secure the 11-2 victory.
• Saint Francis recorded six hits and one walk in Saturday's second game. Lichtensteiger and Xavier Nolan both went 2-4 at the plate, with Nolan also scoring two runs. Kintz and Zellers each recorded an RBI.
• On the mound, Dawson French was credited with the loss after allowing four hits and striking out two batters in 1.0 inning. Nathan Bardwell and Andrew Onuegbu combined for four strikeouts in relief.

Up next, the Cougars (5-19, 3-9 CL) will host Grace College for doubleheaders on March 20-21 at the Cougar Baseball Field. 

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 21 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.