FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The University of Saint Francis Cougars (17-8; 6-4 Crossroads) traveled to Spring Arbor, Michigan Thursday afternoon to begin a four-game series against the Spring Arbor University Cougars (11-7-1; 6-4 Crossroads) in a doubleheader and lost both games each by one run by scores of 6-5 in 11 innings, and 5-4 in the finale.

Sophomore pitcher Hunter Frost took the mound to start the opener for the Cougars and shut down Spring Arbor through the first two innings.

Then in the top of the third, the Cougars went to work with the bats as outfielders Xavier Nolan and Alec Brunson worked back-to-back walks to open the inning and then scored the first two runs of the game off three hits and an error by Spring Arbor.

Frost continued to mow down the opposition through five innings, but come the sixth, Spring Arbor got their offense started.

A long inning resulting in four runs, three hits, and a couple walks suddenly put Spring Arbor ahead 4-2 and they added an insurance run to take a 5-2 lead into the ninth.

But then the Cougars showed their resilience and fight down to their last breath. Second baseman Jose Valdes-Sandoval reached on an error to open the frame, and then another error loaded the bases for first baseman Tyler Prince. Then with one out, a bases-clearing double by the Cougars first baseman plated three runs tying the game at five.

Then the game went to extra innings as the Cougars bullpen stayed strong. The Cougars went in order though in the 10^th and 11^th innings and escaped a 10^th inning jam to keep the game alive.

Come the bottom of the 11^th, a leadoff walk put the winning run on base for Spring Arbor, and then a two-out single up the middle ended the Cougars' winning streak at six games.

In the second game, freshman pitcher Deron Swanson started for the Cougars and was given an early 1-0 lead when Tyler Prince singled home Alec Brunson in the top of the first. Saint Francis then doubled the lead when center fielder Collin Landrum hit a two-out double to score Kaden Sullivan.

But then in the bottom of the fourth, Spring Arbor got to Swanson. Five hits, two errors by the Cougars, and four runs in the frame put Spring Arbor ahead 4-2.

The Cougars got a run back in the top of the fifth, but Spring Arbor got that run back in the bottom of the sixth to take a two-run lead into the top of the seventh.

In the final frame, the Cougars put up one last fight as they did in the opener when designated hitter David Miller singled home Xavier Nolan to close the gap to within one run, but that's all Saint Francis got as they suffered the sweep to open the series.

Deron Swanson took the loss despite only allowing one earned run through five and a thirds innings pitched while striking out eight.

The Cougars and Spring Arbor will wrap up their four-game series with a doubleheader Friday in Spring Arbor at 1:00 pm.