USF Drops Doubleheader to No. 12 IWU

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team fell to the No. 12 Wildcats of Indiana Wesleyan in a home doubleheader on Thursday, April 17. 

IWU narrowly won game one by a final score of 9-7 before taking game two 11-5.

INDIANA WESLEYAN 9, SAINT FRANCIS 7

• The Wildcats took an early lead in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on an error by USF to score a run.
• In the bottom half of the inning, Abby Robakowski and Macie Dowd hit back-to-back RBI doubles to center field, bringing in two runs and giving USF the lead. Saint Francis then took advantage of another error from IWU, which allowed them to add another run, making the score 3-1 in favor of the Cougars after the first inning.
• After IWU tied the game up in the top of the third inning, Brooklyn McCord doubled to left field to score Madyson Minnich and Haylee Schott, giving Saint Francis back the lead. 
• The Wildcats drove in another run in the fourth inning, followed by four runs in the fifth inning to give IWU the 9-5 advantage. 
• In the bottom of the sixth inning, with one out, Robakowski hit a homer to center field, narrowing Indiana Wesleyan's lead to two runs. 
• IWU held off the Cougars' rally to win game one 9-7.
• Saint Francis had 11 hits and five walks in game one.  Dowd went 3-4 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI. Robakowski hit her ninth home run of the season, recorded a double, three RBI and scored two runs. Paiton Iliff hit 2-3 with two runs scored, while McCord had an extra-base hit and drove in two runs. 
• Ellie Sauder threw 4.1 innings as the Cougars' starting pitcher, recording a strikeout and allowing nine hits. 

INDIANA WESLEYAN 11, SAINT FRANCIS 5

• Iliff led off the game for the Cougars with a home run to left field to give USF the early 1-0 lead. 
• The Wildcats responded with a home run in the top of the third inning, tying the game at 1-1.
• IWU took the lead by scoring again in the fourth and fifth innings, making the score 4-1.
• In the bottom of the fifth inning, Dowd hit a three-run home run to center field, tying the game at 4-4.
• Indiana Wesleyan put together a big seventh inning, driving in seven runs to extend their lead to 11-4.
• Iliff responded with her second homer of the game to left field to cut the Wildcats' lead to 11-5. 
• IWU held on for the game two victory to earn their 13th win in a row. 
• As a team, USF had nine hits, with Iliff going 3-4 at the plate with her eighth and ninth home runs of the season, three runs scored and two RBI. Dowd hit 2-4 with three RBI and her fifth homer of the season. 
• Alexa Huth struck out six batters while allowing 11 hits in 6.1 innings in the circle for USF. 

Up next, USF softball (22-14, 15-11) will travel to Taylor University for a road doubleheader on Saturday, April 19. The Cougars swept the Trojans at Westendorf Field earlier this season, with game scores of 7-6 and 10-1. 

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