FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Thursday afternoon, the University of Saint Francis Cougars (3-3) began the Spring Games in Kissimmee, Florida against the Cornerstone Eagles (4-2) in a single game but fell 4-3 in heartbreaking fashion in the bottom of the seventh before falling to the Saint Xavier Cougars (10-2) 8-2, and then having their finale against Florida Memorial cancelled due to weather.

Against the Cornerstone Eagles, starting pitcher Mackenzie Rust took the mound for the Cougars and started out strong striking out the side in the first inning. She proceeded to retire the first six batters faced with five on strikeouts.

Then in the top of the third, the Cougars broke the scoreless tie as second baseman Ashley Kent hit a double and scored the game's first run on a fielding error by the Eagles. The Cougars led 1-0 and Rust continued her dominance on the mound.

The junior hurler retired the first nine batters faced striking out six of them, but the Eagles got to her in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI-bunt single to tie the game at one.

Come the bottom of the fifth, a two-out infield single plated the go-ahead run for the Eagles, but the Cougars responded in the top of the sixth.

Center fielder Grace Renbarger led off the frame with a single, stole second, and with two outs scored the tying run on an RBI-single by first baseman Taylor Horsely. Then a proceeding RBI-single by shortstop Abby Erwin put Saint Francis back on top 3-2.

Rust retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth and took the mound looking to finish off the Eagles in the seventh. With two outs and one on, a walk was issued and what followed was a costly fielding error and a game-winning double as the Cougars suffered the tough loss.

Rust took the loss after going six and two-thirds innings and allowing four runs (only two earned) on seven hits while striking out eight batters.

In the second game against the Saint Xavier Cougars, freshman Mia Werner took the mound to start for Saint Francis, but surrendered a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, and then a two-out RBI-double followed shortly thereafter and the Cougars were down 3-0.

Saint Francis then got their scoring started in the bottom of the second when third baseman Brooklyn McCord doubled home Anna Smith to make it 3-1. Werner continued to battle on the mound and escaped a couple more jams but kept her team in the game. 

Then in the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars pulled to within one run when catcher Tori Miller singled home Regan Peppler with two outs. But in the top of the sixth, Saint Xavier went back to work with the bats, plating four runs on two hits and two costly fielding errors by the Cougars to extend their lead to 7-2, and Saint Francis could never catch back up.

Werner went the distance allowing eight runs though only five were earned despite suffering the loss as she moves to 1-2 on the season. 

After weather postponed the finale, the Cougars resume play tomorrow with two games against the Siena Heights Saints (5-1) beginning at 11:15 followed by the Grand View Vikings (6-2) at 4:00 pm.