UPLAND, Ind. -- On Thursday, The University of Saint Francis Cougars (5-9, 0-2) took on the University Of Taylor Trojans (9-7, 2-0) in a doubleheader in Upland, Indiana where they fell in both games to the Knights 10-9 and 25-4.

In the first game of the series, sophomore pitcher Lukas North took the mound for the Cougars. The Knights decided to strike first in the bottom of the 2nd off a double and a sacrifice fly to go up 2-0. But the Cougars offense quickly rallied back from an Xavier Croxton 3-run homerun in the 3rd that put the Cougars up 3-2. North's day on the mound would end after the 4th. However, the Trojans responded with a 2-run RBI in the 4th and 3 more RBIs in the 5th to make it a 3-7 ballgame. However, this Cougars team has slowly grown over this early season against top-ranked teams and knew how tor ally back. This fight was on full display when Nick Parsons smashed a 2-run homerun in the 6th to make it a 5-7 ballgame. Then a 2-run RBI single, a double, an RBI single, and a sacrifice fly would all come from the Cougars in the 7th to sit comfortably at 9-7. However, the Cougars defense failed to closeout the game as a 2-run RBI would tie the game 9-9 in the bottom of the 8th. Then a sacrifice line-drive allowed a Trojan to advance and score in the bottom of the 9th closing it out 10-9.

In the second series, junior pitcher Casey Henry took the mound for the Cougars to start. The Cougars defense seemed frozen in the top of the 1st as the Trojans managed to score 16 runs off several RBI singles, walks, and sacrifice flies. Then in the 3rd the Trojans would extend their lead off an RBI single making it 17-0. While Sam Pesa would hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the 4th to make it 17-1, the Trojans offense would remain unphased. They added a single and a 2-run RBI double to make it 20-1 in the 4th. Ethan Ellestad hit a single in the 6th allowing a Cougar to score making it 2-20. But then the last bit of Trojans offense came screaming in the 6th off 2-singles, a wild-pitch, and a solo homerun making it 25-2. The Cougars would try rallying in the 7th off a Aiden Litchensteiger RBI and a Gable Noble sacrifice fly to make it 4-25, but the Cougars offense sputtered out and fell to the Trojans.

The Cougars return home to take on the Trojans at USF with a noon first pitch. USF will compete this Saturday, March 4 at Cougar Field on the campus of Saint Francis for a noon start and the 2nd game to follow directly after. 

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