FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars split a Crossroads League doubleheader against Spring Arbor University on Thursday, April 9. Saint Francis dropped game one 17-3 before bouncing back with a 5-4 win in game two.

SPRING ARBOR 17, SAINT FRANCIS 3

• SF and SAU were tied after the first inning, with both teams driving in a run for a 1-1 game.
• Spring Arbor scored a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings to pull ahead. 
• SAU extended its lead with four runs in the sixth and a run in the eighth before putting together a big ninth inning to secure the win.
• Saint Francis collected three hits in game one, with Jack Belschner leading the way with two hits. Ashten Tuttle and Jordan Davis each drove in a run for the Cougars. Xavier Nolan and Owen Zimmerman each stole a base.
• On the mound, Perry Stow took the loss after working five innings, striking out a pair of batters and giving up seven hits. 

SAINT FRANCIS 5, SPRING ARBOR 4

• Saint Francis responded in game two with a strong team effort to earn the split. The SF Cougars scored three runs in the second inning and added two more in the fifth to hold off a late Spring Arbor push.
• SF recorded seven hits and four walks in game two. Ayden Lichtensteiger went 2-4 at the plate with a double. Belschner finished with two RBI, while Xavier Nolan and Kasen Oribello each contributed key hits. Owen Zimmerman added two hits and scored a run in the victory.
• On the mound, Curtis Ellis earned the win after 6.1 innings of work, striking out three. Bryce Adams came on in relief to record the save and secure the 5-4 victory.

Up next, Saint Francis baseball (13-26, 11-15 CL) returns to action Saturday, April 11, with another doubleheader at home against SAU, with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 PM.

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership: Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 21 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.