(RV) Cougars Advance in Crossroads League Tournament with Win Over No. 22 Marian
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#22 Marian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
|
(RV) Saint Francis (Ind.) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | X | 5 | 8 | 2 |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The (RV) University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team defeated No. 22 Marian University 5-1 on Wednesday, April 29, to advance in the 2026 Crossroads League Tournament.
Saint Francis enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed, while Marian is the No. 3 seed.
The Cougars and Knights played through four scoreless innings before Marian broke through in the top of the fifth with an RBI groundout to take a 1-0 lead.
Saint Francis answered in the bottom of the sixth. An RBI double to right center tied the game at 1-1 before Paiton Iliff followed with a two-run home run to right field to give the Cougars the lead. Abby Robakowski added a solo home run in the next at-bat, and an RBI single up the middle later in the inning extended SF's advantage to 5-1.
The Cougars held Marian scoreless in the seventh to secure the win and advance in the winners' bracket of the Crossroads League Tournament.
Saint Francis recorded eight hits in the game. Sam Baker and Robakowski both went 2-3 at the plate. Baker had a double, while Robakowski recorded a double and her 23rd home run of the season. Iliff finished with a home run and a team-high two RBI, while Lillian Pierce also drove in a run.
In the circle, Ellie Sauder threw a complete game, striking out six while allowing eight hits and two walks.
Up next, the Cougars (32-11) will face No. 5 seed Spring Arbor University in game seven of the tournament at 3 p.m. at Westendorf Field, with the winner advancing to the tournament championship game.
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.
