MELBOURNE, Fla. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team opened play at The Space Coast Spring Games on Tuesday against Judson University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

The Cougars split the day, earning a 4-0 shutout victory over Judson before falling to Michigan-Dearborn, 2-1.

SAINT FRANCIS 4, JUDSON 0

• After three scoreless innings, Saint Francis broke through with an RBI double to center field to take a 1-0 lead.
• The Cougars added three more runs in the fifth, stringing together a pair of singles to extend the advantage to 4-0.
• Saint Francis held the Golden Eagles off the board through all seven innings to secure the shutout.
• The Cougars totaled nine hits in the win. Macie Dowd and Haylee Schott each went 2-3 at the plate and combined for three RBI. Dowd added an extra-base hit, while Lena Viggiano contributed a double and an RBI. Madyson Minnich stole two bases.
• In the circle, Ellie Sauder earned the win, striking out seven and allowing just two hits over 5.0 innings. Olivia Fuentes tossed two innings of relief, surrendering one hit while keeping Judson scoreless.

MICHIGAN-DEARBORN 2, SAINT FRANCIS 1

• Michigan-Dearborn struck first with an RBI single in the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead.
• Saint Francis answered in the fifth when Emma Howdeshell hit an RBI triple to right-center, scoring Bekah Patterson to tie the game at 1-1.
• The Wolverines retook the lead in the sixth, capitalizing on a throwing error to make it 2-1.
• The Cougars were unable to find the equalizer in the final inning as UM-Dearborn secured the one-run victory. 
• Saint Francis finished with six hits and two walks. Minnich went 2-4 with two doubles, while Howdeshell added the RBI triple.
• Alexa Huth started in the circle, striking out three and allowing three hits over 4.0 innings. Schott was charged with the loss after pitching 2.0 innings in relief, recording one strikeout while allowing one hit.

Up next, Saint Francis softball (2-2) will play an exhibition game against the Czech Republic national team before facing Cleary University in day two of The Space Coast Spring Games on Wednesday, March 4. 

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 21 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.