FORT WAYNE, Ind. - On Friday afternoon the University of Saint Francis Cougars (20-17; 12-13 Crossroads) traveled to Goshen, Indiana for a doubleheader against the Goshen College Maple Leafs (20-24; 10-20) and split the two games dropping the opener 3-2 before winning the finale 11-0 in five innings.

The opening game was a nailbiter for the Cougars as junior pitcher Mackenzie Rust took the mound, who allowed a solo home run in the top of the first but settled in after that.

In the top of the third the Cougars went to work on offense. First baseman Taylor Horseley led off the frame with a double, and then with two outs and runners at second and third, third baseman Dani Karr came through with a two-run single up the middle to give Saint Francis a 2-1 lead.

Rust meanwhile pitched brilliantly through the next several innings and held the one-run lead until the bottom of the sixth. But a leadoff walk would prove costly after a two-out double tied the game at two. 

After the Cougars failed to score in the top of the seventh, Rust went back out for the bottom of the frame and the Maple Leafs finished off Saint Francis with consecutive singles to open the frame as the Cougars suffered a tough 3-2 loss to open the day.

Rust pitched well despite the loss allowing just two earned runs in six-plus innings pitched while walking only one and striking out seven.

In the finale, the Cougars showed right from the start that this was going to be their game. Center fielder Grace Renbarger led off the game with a single, stole third, and scored the game's first run on a sacrifice fly by catcher Tori Miller.

On the mound was sophomore Erika Turpin who worked out of a first-inning threat, and that was the closest Goshen would come for in the top of the second four hits led to four runs including a two-run home run by catcher Carly Turner to jump ahead 5-0. 

More damage came in the third when four more hits, an error, and walk plated five more runs for the Cougars giving Turpin more than enough run support to finish off the Maple Leafs. 

In the top of the fifth, the Cougars add an 11th run, and Turpin went out for the last half of the inning and shut the door on Goshen as the Cougars earned the split via mercy rule after five innings.

Turpin earned the win to bring her season record to 7-5 on the season after allowing no runs on just five hits. 

The Cougars resume their road trip Saturday afternoon when they travel to Mishawaka, Indiana for a doubleheader against the Bethel University Pilots (8-28; 7-21 Crossroads) beginning at 1:00 pm.