Cougars Walk-Off with Two Wins Against Bethel on Senior Day
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bethel (IN) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 2 |
|
Saint Francis (IN) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | X | 11 | 12 | 4 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bethel (IN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
|
Saint Francis (IN) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 0 |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis softball team hosted the Bethel University Pilots in the Lady Cougar's regular season finale on Thursday, April 25.
USF walked-off game one 5-4 before earning a 11-7 victory in game two to complete the doubleheader sweep of the Pilots at Westendorf Field.
The Saint Francis softball team honored its three seniors Dani Karr, Taylor Horsley, and Mackenzie Rust in an on-field ceremony prior to the start of Thursday's doubleheader.
Game 1
- The Lady Cougars and Pilots were tied 0-0 heading into the 3rd inning when Bethel drove in a run to snag the 1-0 lead.
- USF was quick to answer with two RBIs from Macie Dowd and Dani Karr in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
- After the Pilots took a 4-2 lead in the 4th inning, Dowd hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Sam Baker and cut the Pilots' lead to one run in the 5th.
- Bethel was ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the 7th when both Baker and Anna Smith singled to the left side to put runners on first and second for Saint Francis. Dowd followed with a double down the left field line to the tie the score up 4-4. Karr hit a walk-off single right field to give the Lady Cougars the 5-4 victory.
- As a team, USF had 12 hits, including doubles from Dowd and Lena Viggiano.
- Dowd and Karr both hit 2-4 in game one. Dowd led with three RBIs.
- Baker went 3-4 at the plate with three runs scored and a stolen base.
- Mackenzie Rust started on the mound for the Lady Cougars, scattering four hits while striking out three batters in 3.1 innings.
- Kennedy Baioni struck out three batters in 3.1 innings of relief.
Game 2
- Both teams went scoreless through the first two innings of game two on Thursday night, until Bethel scored three runs in the top of the 3rd inning.
- Madisyn Miller got USF on the board with a two-run double to left center in the bottom of the 3rd. AJ Gaff and Madyson Minnich drove in two more runs to put the Lady Cougars ahead 5-3.
- After being down 6-4, Bethel pulled ahead 7-6 in the top of the 6th inning.
- The Lady Cougars responded, scoring five runs in the bottom of the 6th en route to the 11-7 victory and Senior Day sweep.
- As a team, USF had 12 hits, including doubles from Baker and Madisyn Miller.
- Miller and Viggiano both went 2-3 at the plate in game two with two RBIs and a walk each.
- Brooklyn McCord also hit 2-3 with a run scored.
- Ellie Sauder pitched a complete game, giving up nine hits while recording five strikeouts for her sixth win of the season in the circle.
Saint Francis completes the regular season at 21-28 overall and 14-22 in conference play. The Lady Cougars wait the results from the remaining regular season games around the league to determine the team's final standings in the Crossroads League.
Cougar fans stay updated with all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com or by downloading the Saint Francis Cougars app.
