MELBOURNE, Fla. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team faced No. 15 Missouri Baptist University and No. 14 Keiser University on the Cougars' third day at the Space Coast Spring Games on Friday, March 6.

Saint Francis fell to the Spartans 3-0 in game one on Friday before dropping a hard-fought 11-9 contest to the Seahawks in eight innings.

#15 MISSOURI BAPTIST 3, SAINT FRANCIS 0

• Missouri Baptist hit two home runs in the bottom of the second inning to take an early 3-0 lead.
• Saint Francis tried to create chances, putting runners on base, but the Cougars came up short against the Spartans 3-0.
• The Cougars finished with five hits as a team, with Madyson Minnich going 2-3 at the plate with a double. Lena Viggiano and Paiton Iliff also recorded extra-base hits against the Spartans.
• Ellie Sauder took the loss in the circle after allowing three hits and striking out one batter in 2.0 innings pitched. Haylee Schott held the Spartans to just one hit in 4.0 innings of relief.

#14 KEISER 11, SAINT FRANCIS 9

• The Cougars got on the scoreboard first with a sacrifice fly to left field to make the score 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
• Keiser took the lead in the top of the third, scoring four runs to make it a 4-1 game.
• Macie Dowd hit her first home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning, driving in two runs to cut the Seahawks' lead to 4-3.
• Keiser responded in the top of the sixth with two RBI singles to extend its lead.
• With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Dowd hit her second home run of the day, a solo shot over the right field fence to bring the score to 6-4.
• In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars took advantage of a sacrifice fly and a fielding error to tie the game 6-6 and force extra innings.
• Keiser put together a big eighth inning, scoring five runs to pull ahead 11-6.
• A three-run home run from Iliff cut the deficit to 11-9, but the Cougars' rally fell short as Keiser improved to 16-2 on the season with the win.
• Saint Francis recorded six hits and two walks against Keiser. Dowd went 2-3 with two home runs, three RBI and a walk. Iliff went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Abby Robakowski andLillian Pierce also drove in runs, while Sam Baker had a stolen base.
• Alexa Huth struck out four batters while allowing five hits in 5.0 innings in the circle for Saint Francis. Olivia Fuentes had a strikeout and allowed three hits in 1.1 innings of relief. Haylee Schott took the loss after allowing four hits with one strikeout in 1.2 innings pitched.

Saint Francis (3-4) will conclude their trip to Florida with a single game against Mount Marty University on March 7. 

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.