WINONA LAKE, Ind. -- The University of Saint Francis Softball team traveled to compete against the Grace College Lady Lancers at Coach Phil Dick Field, Thursday afternoon in a doubleheader. The Lady Cougars won Game 1, 4-2 and won Game 2, 5-2.

In Game 1, Kenzie Rust gained the start on the mound striking out 3 batters and giving up 6 hits. The Lady Cougars gained their footing in the 2nd inning, with Anna Smith trippling into left-center allowing Paiton Iliff to advance home. The Cougars continued to bring the heat in the 4th inning with Tori Miller homering into left field. USF had a huge 6th inning with Dani Karr reaching on an error, allowing Macie Dowd to advance to home and score. Abi Erwin also singled to the infield, allowing Carly Turner to advance another run home.

Tori Miller went 2:3 from the plate with one RBI, with Brooklyn McCord going 2:4 from the plate, and Paiton Iliff and Abi Erwin both going 1:3 from the plate with Erwin gaining an RBI, and Anna Smith went 1:2 from the plate gaining herself one RBI. Dani Karr also gained an RBI.

In Game 2, Mia Werner earned her start on the mound, striking out 4 batters and giving up 3 hits.

The Cougars gained their footing a little late in the 5th inning, with Aubrey Dunnuck tripling into the right field line, allowing Abi Erwin to advance home. Brooklyn McCord singled up the middle, for another run. Tori Miller hit a sac-fly deep into left field and McCord stole home and scored. USF continued their swinging momentum into the 6th inning with Dunnuck doubling into right field and tallying 2 RBI's. The Cougars had a huge 7th inning as well, with Mady Minnich singling into left field and gainig 2 RBI's to her stat line. Macie Dowd doubled into right-center, allowing both Erwin and Minnich to advance to home and score. Dowd stole home and scored. Iliff hit a grand slam over the left field fence allowing Tori Miller, Dani Karr, and Anna Smith all to advance to home and score.

Aubrey Dunnuck and Macie Dowd both went 3:4 from the plate, with Abi Erwin and Mady Minnich both going 2:4 from the plate, and Anna Smith goin 2:3 from the plate. Paiton Iliff also went 3:5 from the plate with Brooklyn McCord going 1:4 from the plate. The Lady Cougars totaled up 12 RBI's from Brooklyn McCord and Tori Miller both tallying one, Macie Dowd and Mady Minnich both tallying two, and Aubrey Dunnuck and Paiton Iliff both tallying 3.

Kenzie Rust also came in to pitch relief, giving up no hits in the two innings she pitched.

The Cougars will continue their season at 12-20 in the Crossroads League and 18-24 overall. USF will be at home for their next doubleheader to compete against Bethel University on Thursday (April 27th). The Pilots are currently 6-36 overall and 5-27 in the Crossroads League and on a one game winning streak.

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

-Haylea Sorrell-