FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Wednesday afternoon, the University of Saint Francis Cougars (10-8; 2-4 Crossroads) traveled to Spring Arbor, Michigan for a road doubleheader against the Spring Arbor University Cougars (9-12; 3-7 Crossroads) and split the doubleheader losing the first game 5-1 before claiming the finale 9-3.

In the opener, junior pitcher Mackenzie Rust started for the Cougars, fresh off a complete-game victory Tuesday against the Bethel Pilots. She threw scoreless first inning, and then her teammates gave her a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when third baseman Dani Karr doubled home shortstop Abby Erwin.

The game went to the bottom of the third inning with Saint Francis still ahead 1-0, but a leadoff single was then followed by a two-run home run with one out as Spring Arbor took their first lead of the game.

Then come the bottom of the fifth, Rust walked the leadoff batter, then a hit batsman followed with one out, and a proceeding three-run home run put Spring Arbor ahead 5-1, driving Rust from the game. The junior hurler allowed five runs on five hits and just one walk through three and a third innings.

That was all the scoring left from the game, as the Cougars couldn't manufacture any more offense falling by four runs.

In the second game, freshman pitcher Erika Turpin started for the Cougars, and was helped with four runs in the top of the first before she even threw a pitch.

Left fielder Grace Renbarger walked to open the game, and then with one out, first baseman Taylor Horsley drove a two-strike pitch over the center field wall to give Saint Francis a 2-0 lead. But they weren't done there, for with two outs, third baseman Brooklyn McCord singled home two more runs as the Cougars were in command up 4-0 early.

Come the second, more damage was done by the Cougars. This time left fielder Elandra Shafer led off with a walk, and what followed was a two-run triple by designated hitter Regan Peppler, who then came around to score on a sacrifice fly, and after two innings, Saint Francis held a 6-0 lead.

After a seventh run crossed the plate in the top of the fourth, Turpin went back out and continued to pitch well over Spring Arbor. After allowing three straight hits to open the fourth, she bared down to retire the side.

Then in the top of the seventh, pinch-hitter Aubrey Dunnuck slammed a two-run home run to center field to give Saint Francis a couple insurance runs, her first home run of the season.

As Turpin went back out for the seventh to finish the game, Spring Arbor staged one more rally to plate another run and put runners on first and third, but then the freshman hurler got a pop up to finish off Spring Arbor and give the Cougars the win.

Through seven innings, Turpin allowed just three runs (only one earned) on 12 hits while not allowing a single walk.

The Cougars resume play on Friday afternoon when they travel to Indianapolis, Indiana for a tough challenge when they face the No. 16 Marian University Knights (16-4; 6-3 Crossroads) in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 pm.