FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team split with the visiting Foresters of Huntington University in a Crossroads League doubleheader on Thursday, April 24. 

Huntington won game one 8-6 before Saint Francis rallied to take game two by a final score of 7-4. 

HUNTINGTON 8, SAINT FRANCIS 6

• USF scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning, taking a 2-0 lead thanks to an RBI double from Madisyn Miller and Brooklyn McCord.
• Huntington responded in the top of the third inning by scoring three runs, which gave them a one-run lead.
• An RBI single from Madyson Minnich tied the game up 3-3. McCord followed with an RBI single to right field, giving Saint Francis the lead again at the bottom of the third inning.
• The Foresters scored five more runs in the fourth and fifth innings to pull ahead 8-4. 
• Macie Dowd doubled to right center to score Abby Robakowski, followed by an RBI from Miller to cut HU's lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning. 
• The Cougars were unable to take back the lead as Huntington won game one by a final score of 8-6. 
• Saint Francis had 12 hits in game one, with Minnich and McCord going 2-2 at the plate. Minnich had a sacrifice bunt and an RBI, while McCord had a team-high two RBI. Dowd hit 2-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and an RBI. 
• Mady Tompkins took the loss in the circle for USF after throwing four innings, striking out two batters and allowing nine hits. 
• Kennedy Baioni struck out a batter and held the Foresters to four hits in three innings of relief. 

SAINT FRANCIS 7, HUNTINGTON 4 

• After Huntington scored a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning, USF quickly responded with an RBI single from Robakowski, tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom half of the inning.
• The Cougars and Foresters then went through three scoreless innings until HU hit another RBI single in the top of the fifth to regain a 2-1 lead.
• Saint Francis's offense scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning to jump out to a 5-2 lead. The inning was highlighted by an RBI single through the left side from Robakowski and two RBI singles from Dowd and Minnich.
• With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Paiton Iliff homered over the left field fence to extend USF's lead to 7-2. 
• The Foresters responded with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, but their rally fell short as Saint Francis secured a 7-4 victory, splitting Thursday's doubleheader.
• As a team, the Cougars recorded seven hits and two walks in game two. Iliff went 1-1 at the plate with two runs scored, two RBI, two sac bunts, a walk and her 11th home run of the season. Robakowski went 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored. 
• Ellie Sauder threw a complete seven innings as USF's starting pitcher, collecting four strikeouts while allowing 11 hits. 

Up next, USF softball (25-17, 18-14) will host No. 14 Marian University during Senior Day at Westendorf Field on Saturday, April 26. Game one between the Cougars and the Knights will start at 1:00 p.m. 

Cougar fans can stay updated on all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com.