MELBOURNE, Fla.- The University of Saint Francis Softball team traveled down to Melbourne, Florida for the USSSA Softball Regional Tournament. The Lady Cougars will compete Thursday March 9th through Saturday March 11th to take on Cleary University, Culver-Stockton (Mo.), Washington Adventist (Md.), W. Virgina Tech, Lawrence Tech (Mich.), and Cornerstone University (Mich.). In Game 1 of this six game Regional series stretch, the Lady Cougs competed at Pride Stadium, falling just short of a win against Cleary University. USF lost in extra innings to the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference opponent, 2-1. 

Kenzie Rust earned the start on the mound for the Cougars and brought the heat, striking out 4 batters to start in just 2 innings. The Lady Cougars took the lead in the fourth inning due to a Carly Turner RBI bringing Paige Oldhma home for the first run of the game. Carly Turner, Brooklyn McCord, and Abi Erwin all went 1:3 from the plate, tallying the three its the Cougars were able to muster.

Kenzie Rust threw in extra innings as well for the Cougars closing out with 7 hits that resulted in 2 runs. Rust struck out 9 batters and only walked three in her USSSA Regional Softball debut. 

The Lady Cougars will continue their USSSA Regional series with another match-up today (March 9th) against Culver-Stockton University. Culver-Stockton is 5-9 overall and currently on a three-game losing streak. Their first USSSA Regioanl Softball Match-up was with Roosevelt Unievrsity.

Cougar fans stay updated with all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com or by downloading the Saint Francis Cougars app.

-Haylea Sorrell-