FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Tuesday afternoon, the University of Saint Francis Cougars (14-13; 6-9 Crossroads) traveled to Mount Vernon, Ohio to face the Mount Vernon University Cougars (23-7; 13-5 Crossroads) in a doubleheader but were swept by scores of 5-2 and 5-4.

In the opening game, senior pitcher Roni Hudson took the mound to start for the Cougars, and after a leadoff triple by center fielder Grace Renbarger went for not, Mount Vernon plated the game's first run in the bottom of the first with a two-out RBI-double.

The game stayed 1-0 through the next couple innings as the Cougars threatened again in the top of the fourth getting three hits but failing to score. Then in the bottom of the frame, Hudson got two outs but with a runner on surrendered a two-run home run as Mount Vernon added a couple insurance runs.

Two more runs for Mount Vernon in the bottom of the fifth drove Hudson from the game after working four and a third innings.

Heading into the top of the seventh, the Cougars were still being shutout 5-0, but made one last push. They plated a couple runs to pull to within three and brought the tying run to the plate with one out, but a fly out and strikeout ended the threat as Saint Francis dropped the opener 5-2.

In the finale, it was Mackenzie Rust's turn to pitch for the Cougars but like her teammate in the opener, she surrendered the first runs of the game in the bottom of the first as Mount Vernon strung together consecutive hits with two outs to take an early 2-0 lead.

Then come the bottom of the third, three straight singles with one out plated another run as the deficit grew to 3-0 for Saint Francis.

Trailing by three runs, the Cougars got some life back into them come the top of the fourth as Grace Renbarger hit a leadoff double and came around to score on the same play via throwing error. After Rust held Mount Vernon in the bottom half, the Cougars went back to work in the fifth with a two-out single by Renbarger to pull to within a run.

Finally in the top of the seventh, the Cougars were still trailing by a run, and after the first two batters struck out, Saint Francis staged a rally. The tying and go-ahead runs got into scoring position, and then shortstop Abby Erwin put the ball in play and reached on a fielding error by Mount Vernon's shortstop as both runs scored and the Cougars completed the comeback.

However, now with a 4-3 lead going to the last inning, sophomore Erika Turpin, who came in to relieve Rust in the fifth, couldn't hold the lead as Mount Vernon managed three hits to pull out the win 5-4 and deal the Cougars the tough loss.

Grace Renbarger was the big hitting star in the second game going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while Rust settled down to allow just the three runs on seven hits through four innings.

The Cougars resume play on Friday afternoon when they return home to Westendorf Field for a doubleheader against the Grace College Lancers (10-18; 7-10 Crossroads) in the first two of a four-game series beginning at 3:00 pm.