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Photos Courtesy of Taylor University Athletics
Photos Courtesy of Taylor University Athletics

Survive and Advance: USF Beats MVNU and SAU in Day Three of CL Tournament

UPLAND, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis softball team defeated Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Spring Arbor University to advance in the Crossroads League Tournament on Thursday, May 1. 

USF, the No. 4 seed on the bracket, first beat No. 8 Spring Arbor by a final score of 9-1 in six innings.

Saint Francis then battled No. 6 Mount Vernon Nazarene, with USF coming out on top 6-4.

SAINT FRANCIS 9, SPRING ARBOR 1 (6 INNINGS) 

  • With two outs and runners on first and second, Paiton Iliff stepped into the batter's box and hit a three-run home run, giving Saint Francis a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
  • SAU responded in the top of the fourth, cutting USF's lead to 3-1 with an RBI double.
  • In the bottom half of the inning, Abby Robakowski singled to center field to score Sam Baker and Brooklyn McCord, extending the USF Cougars' lead to 5-1. 
  • In the sixth inning, Macie Dowd hit an RBI triple to right field to drive in another run for Saint Francis. Haylee Schott followed with an RBI single to left field. Iliff then hit her second homer of the game to give Saint Francis an eight-run lead, cutting the game short as USF earned a run-rule victory over SAU to advance in the tournament. 
  • As a team, USF had 11 hits and three walks. Iliff and Dowd both went 2-4 at the plate. Iliff had two home runs and five RBI, while Dowd had an extra-base hit, a run scored and one RBI. Madyson Minnich hit 2-3 and Robakowski contributed two RBI. 
  • Mady Tompkins earned the win as USF's starting pitcher, recording two strikeouts and allowing seven hits.

SAINT FRANCIS 6, MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE 4

  • USF capitalized on an early error by MVNU to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. 
  • In the second inning, Robakowski hit a two-run home run over the left field fence, extending Saint Francis's lead to 3-0.
  • Kortney Surber followed with her first collegiate home run in the third inning, making the score 4-0 in favor of the USF Cougars.
  • In the fourth inning, Robakowski hit another two-run home run, this time over the center field fence, bringing the score to 6-0. 
  • MVNU tried to rally, scoring four runs in the top of the fifth inning, but USF held MVNU off to secure the two-run victory and advance to day four of the Crossroads League Tournament. 
  • USF had nine hits against MVNU, with Robakowski going a perfect 4-4 at the plate with two home runs, a double and four RBI. Surber had a home run and an RBI, while Baker hit 2-4 with three runs scored and a stolen base.
  • In the circle, Alexa Huth pitched 4.1 innings, allowing nine hits and four runs.
  • Ellie Sauder recorded two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief, limiting MVNU to just one hit.

Up next, USF softball (28-20) will face the No. 2-seeded Wildcats of Indiana Wesleyan University at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2. With a win, the Cougars would face the No. 1 seed Marian University at 1:00 p.m. 

Cougar fans can stay updated on all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com.