FORT WAYNE, Ind. - On Tuesday afternoon, the University of Saint Francis Cougars (9-7; 1-3 Crossroads) played host to the Bethel University Pilots (3-15; 2-8 Crossroads) at Westendorf Field, and split the doubleheader by winning the opener 4-1 before dropping the finale 6-4.

In the opener, junior pitcher Mackenzie Rust took the mound and set the tone from the start while her teammates went to work for her in the bottom of the first. Saint Francis scored the game's first run on a fielding error by the Pilots and then third baseman Dani Karr singled home shortstop Abby Erwin to give Saint Francis a 2-0 lead.

The score stayed 2-0 until the bottom of the third, when with two outs, catcher Tori Miller hit a double to left-center field scoring first baseman Taylor Horsley and adding a third run for the Cougars. 

On the mound, Rust continued to dominate the Pilots. She escaped a couple threats in the fourth and fifth innings, and after a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth plated a fourth run, the junior hurler was set to finish what she started.

Bethel did get on the board in the top of the sixth with a solo home run, but no more as Rust retired the side in order in the seventh to earn the complete-game victory and give Saint Francis the win. Through seven innings, Rust allowed just one run on four hits and just one walk while striking out six batters.

In the finale, freshman pitcher Erika Turpin started for the Cougars, and did allow a first-inning run, but settled in after that. Then in the bottom of the first, the Cougars tied the score back up as left fielder Grace Renbarger walked to lead-off the inning, and came around to score on designated hitter Regan Peppler's double. 

But in the top of the third, Turpin ran into some trouble. With one out, a two-run home run put Bethel back on top, and then a fielding error followed by another two-run shot gave the Pilots a 5-1 lead, driving Turpin from the game. 

Freshman Mia Werner came in to relieve Turpin, and pitched brilliantly the rest of the way, giving her teammates a chance to come back.

At the plate, the Cougars chipped away, scoring once in the fourth and then once again in the sixth and seventh to close the deficit to within 6-4, but with the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, a pop out ended the game as the Cougars had to settle for the split.

The Cougars resume play on Wednesday afternoon when they travel to Spring Arbor, Michigan for a road doubleheader against the Spring Arbor University Cougars (8-11; 2-6 Crossroads) beginning at 3:00 pm.