Cougars tallying up the runs and two wins against Lancers
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 17 | 2 |
|
Grace | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 17 | 2 |
|
Grace | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
Winona Lake, Ind. --The University of Saint Francis (Ind). Cougars baseball team took on the Grace College Lancers for a crossroads league matchup. The Cougs offense came out hot and helped take two wins on the day by putting up a combined 35 runs on the day.
Grace jumped out to an early 3 run lead in the first inning. But the Cougs put together a two out rally to tie it back up from back to back doubles from Sam Pesa and Nick Paraons and an Eli Riley single. Grace managed to get one back to make it a 4-3 game through three innings. USF was able to score 2 on a 2 rbi sacrifice fly from Ayden Lichtensteiger. Grace regained the lead and made it 6-5 after the sixth inning. But Nick Parsons hit a solo shot to tie it back up in the top of the seventh. This won't be the last time you hear about him. But Grace continued to grind and take a 1 run lead after 7. USF wouldn't lay down as Xavier Croxton singled to tie it up, and Nick Parsons hit a grand slam to give the Cougs an 11-7 lead. They were able to hang on and win this one 11-7.
USF was able to score 24 runs in the second game. They started off with a 3-run homerun from none other than Nick Parsons in the top of the first. Grace was able to scratch four, but the Cougar offense responded yet again. They scored 9 runs in the second. Xavier Croxton hit a 3-run homerun and Sam Pesa followed it up going back to back with a solo shot of his own. Kolton Cardenas had an rbi double, Jose Valdez-Sandoval had an rbi double, and Jayden Lepper had an rbi single. The score after this inning was 12-4. Grace found a way to keep it close making it 12-7. But the Cougs plated two more in the third from ANOTHER homerun that scored 2 from Nick Parsons. An Ayden Lichtensteiger 2 rbi single in the fourth helped to extend their lead to 16-7. Grace was able to have a big inning and keep it close by making it 16-13. But a 7-run 6th inning for USF helped to regain a comfortable lead. Gabriel Oliva hit his first career homerun and it was a big one, a grand slam. They scored one more in the seventh and won this one 24-13.
There were many key contributors for the Cougars. Nick Parsons may be in the running for national hitter of the week going 5-7 with a double and FOUR homeruns with 11 rbis and 7 runs. Jayden Lepper was 6-12 with a triple and 2 rbis. Xavier Croxton was 5-10 with a homerun and 4 rbis. Sam Pesa was 5-9 with a homerun, 3 rbis, and 8 runs. Lastly, Gabriel Oliva with his first career homerun being a grand slam.
The Cougars are now 29-14 and 19-11 in conference play. They will finish up their series against the Grace College Lancers on Saturday. The Lancers are currently 14-26 and 8-20 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.
- Sam Pesa -
