FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Thursday afternoon the University of Saint Francis Cougars (24-19; 16-15 Crossroads) played host to the Huntington University Foresters (13-28; 11-19 Crossroads) in a doubleheader at Westendorf Field and swept the doubleheader winning by scores of 12-7 and 12-9.

Junior pitcher Mackenzie Rust started the opener for the Cougars but ran into a little bit of first inning trouble when consecutive two-out singles gave the Foresters an early 2-0 lead.

But in the bottom of the frame, the Cougars answered back when designated hitter Regan Peppler doubled home two runs to tie the score back up. Then the Cougars took the lead on an infield single by shortstop Brooklyn McCord and a bases-loaded walk to first baseman Taylor Horsley to lead 4-2.

Another bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the second plated a fifth run for Saint Francis, but then the Foresters clawed their way back with a run in the fourth and fifth to cut the lead to 5-4.

Then in the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars put the game away.

With two outs, third baseman Dani Karr doubled home a run, and then Regan Peppler slammed a three-run home run over the right field wall for a four-run inning and extending the lead over Huntington to 9-4.

After the Foresters got three runs back off Rust in the top of the sixth to make it 9-7, three more runs in the bottom of the frame by the Cougars extended their lead to 12-7, and Rust went out to finish off Huntington with a complete-game victory.

Mackenzie Rust now improves to 12-8 on the season.

In the finale, freshman Mia Werner started on the mound for the Cougars and did surrender a first inning run but held the Foresters from there. Then in the bottom of the first, the Cougars answered back as they did in the opener with consecutive RBI-singles from Brooklyn McCord and Aubrey Dunnuck to take a 2-1 lead.

But in the top of the second, a two-run home run gave the Foresters the lead back, and Werner's day was finished after that. Sophomore Erika Turpin came in to relieve but the Foresters kept coming as a two-out double doubled the lead for Huntington at 4-2.

Then the bats went to work. Three more runs including a couple with two outs in the top of the third plated three for the Foresters as they extended their lead to 7-2, but then in the bottom of the inning Saint Francis answered back with a five-spot of their own to tie the game at seven.

The seesaw battle continued into the fourth with the Foresters regaining the lead with a couple more runs, and the Cougars plated another in the bottom to make it 9-8. Then in the bottom of the fifth, catcher Tori Miller gave Saint Francis their first lead since the first with a two-run double to go ahead 10-9.

Ronnie Hudson came in to relieve in the fourth and held the Foresters down the rest of the way and finished the finale off with a strikeout to earn the win and give the Cougars the sweep.

The Cougars resume play Friday afternoon when they host their final home doubleheader of the regular season when they play host to the Grace College Lancers (12-31; 9-23 Crossroads) beginning at 3:00 pm.