SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team split a road doubleheader at Spring Arbor University (10-8, 13 CL) on Saturday, March 14. SF fell short in game one 5-4, before rallying to take game two, 7-0.

SPRING ARBOR 5, SIANT FRANCIS 4

• Saint Francis got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning, using a fielder's choice and a home run to take a 3-0 lead.
• The Cougars took advantage of a dropped fly ball to bring in a run and extend their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third inning.
• Spring Arbor responded in the bottom of the fifth, driving in three runs to cut the deficit to one.
• In the bottom of the sixth inning, SAU plated two more runs to take a 5-4 lead.
• Saint Francis tried to create opportunities in the top of the seventh but was unable to bring in the tying run as Spring Arbor secured the win.
• The SF Cougars recorded five hits and two walks in game one. Madyson Minnich went 2-3 at the plate with a home run, a double and two RBI. Paiton Iliff also had a double, while Abby Robakowski and Macie Dowd each drove in a run. Sam Baker added a stolen base.
• In the circle, Alexa Huth threw 4.2 innings as the starter, allowing three hits and one earned run. Olivia Fuentes was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief.

SAINT FRANCIS 7, SPRING ARBOR 0

• Two RBI doubles drove in Saint Francis's first two runs of game two in the top of the third inning.
• The SF Cougars added another run in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 3-0.
• In the top of the seventh inning, Iliff hit a two-run double to left-center field, followed by a homer from Robakowski to extend Saint Francis's lead to 7-0.
• Saint Francis kept Spring Arbor off the scoreboard to secure the 7-0 victory and complete the doubleheader split.
• The SF Cougars recorded 11 hits in game two. Iliff went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and three RBI. Robakowski and Madyson Minnich each finished 2-for-4. Robakowski had a double, a home run and three RBI, while Dowd added a double and an RBI. Kortney Surber also had an extra-base hit, while Baker swiped another base for her ninth stolen base of the season.
• In the circle, Ellie Sauder threw a complete-game shutout, striking out five batters while allowing four hits to secure her fifth win of the season.

Up next, Saint Francis softball (7-5, 3-1 CL) will travel to Grace College for two games against the Lancers on Tuesday, March 17. Game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., with game two to follow. 

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.