Saint Francis Softball Concludes Season at NAIA Opening Round
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
OUAZ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dordt (IA) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 1 |
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
ASHLAND, Ore. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team saw its historic 2026 season come to an end Tuesday at the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Rounds. The Cougars battled through the elimination bracket, defeating Ottawa University Arizona before falling to Dordt University later in the day.
No. 3 seed Saint Francis opened the day with a 7-1 victory over No. 5 seed OUAZ before dropping a 7-5 decision to No. 4 seed Dordt.
SAINT FRANCIS 7, OUAZ 1
- The Cougars struck first in the first inning, using two RBI singles and a fielder's choice to plate four runs for the early lead.
- An RBI triple to right field in the third inning extended the Saint Francis advantage before the Cougars added two more runs on RBI singles in the sixth to make it 7-0.
- OUAZ attempted to rally in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI double, but Saint Francis held off the Spirit to secure the 7-1 victory and advance in the tournament.
- The Cougars finished with 10 hits and drew three walks. Emma Howdeshell went 2-2 at the plate with a triple and an RBI. Sam Baker finished 2-4 with a stolen base, an RBI, and a run scored, while Haylee Schott added a double. Lena Viggiano led Saint Francis with two RBIs.
- Alexa Huth earned the win in the circle after striking out four batters and allowing one earned run across 6.1 innings pitched. Kennedy Baioni closed out the game without allowing a hit or walk.
DORDT 7, SAINT FRANCIS 5
- Dordt grabbed an early lead, scoring seven runs through the first three innings.
- Saint Francis scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning behind an RBI triple, an RBI groundout, and an RBI single.
- The Cougars' rally fell short as Dordt secured the victory to advance in the tournament.
- Saint Francis recorded eight hits and drew six walks against the Defenders. Kortney Surber and Macie Dowd each went 2-4 at the plate, with Surber adding a double and an RBI. Abby Robakowski recorded a triple and three RBIs, while Schott also drove in a run.
- Olivia Fuentes was charged with the loss after allowing five hits through 2.0 innings pitched. Ellie Sauder tossed 5.0 innings of relief, striking out two batters while allowing seven hits and three runs.
Saint Francis concludes the 2026 season with a 37-13 overall record and a 29-7 mark in Crossroads League play. The Cougars captured the Crossroads League Tournament Championship for the first time in program history and earned the program's first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership: Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 21 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.
