Posted: Mar 14, 2025
Softball Beats Grace Twice in Cougars' Home Opener
Grace
(4-5, 0-3)
3
Saint Francis (Ind.)
(9-4, 2-1)
8
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grace | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 8 | 11 | 0 |
Grace
(4-6, 0-4)
11
Saint Francis (Ind.)
(10-4, 3-1)
19
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grace | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 3 |
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 17 | 6 |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team swept the visiting Grace College Lancers in the Cougars' home opener on Friday, March 14.
Saint Francis won game one by a final score of 8-3 before walking off with game two 19-11 in six innings.
SAINT FRANCIS 8, GRACE 3
- The Cougars took advantage of early errors by the Lancers to take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
- Grace answered with a pair of RBI singles and an RBI double in the top of the third to tie the game up 3-3.
- With two outs in the bottom of the third, Madyson Minnich hit a double, scoring Lillian Pierce and Abby Robakowski to give Saint Francis back the two-run lead.
- Saint Francis brought in three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. An RBI single from pinch hitter Joanna Geremesz and a two-run double from Sam Baker highlighted the inning for USF.
- The Cougars held the Lancers scoreless in the last two innings to secure the 8-3 win in game one.
- As a team, Saint Francis had 11 hits and four walks. Baker went 2-3 at the plate with four RBI, a double and a stolen base. Minnich had an extra-base hit, two RBI, a run scored and a walk. Brooklyn McCord hit 1-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Ellie Sauder got the start in the circle for the Cougars, striking out a pair of batters while allowing seven hits in five innings pitched.
- Alexa Huth held the Lancers to no hits while collecting a strikeout in two innings of relief.
SAINT FRANCIS 19, GRACE 11
- Saint Francis got on the scoreboard first thanks to doubles from Robakowski and Minnich that put USF up 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
- Grace responded, plating seven runs in the top of the second for the four-run lead.
- Pierce hit her first collegiate home run in the third inning to score three runs and cut the Lancers' lead to one. Geremesz followed with an RBI single to tie the game up before Robakowski homered to put USF on top 11-7.
- Grace hit a home run of their own to bring the Lancers within one run in the top of the fourth inning.
- The Cougars were not done yet as USF brought in three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 14-10.
- After the Lancers brought in another run in the top of the fifth, McCord hit an RBI single to start Saint Francis off in the fifth inning. Madisyn Miller then hit an RBI single, followed by Minnich scoring on a bases-loaded hit by pitch. Macie Dowd hit a sacrifice fly to left field to make it a seven-run game going into the sixth inning.
- Lena Viggiano led off the sixth inning, hitting a walk-off home run as USF ended the game early with a 19-11 victory.
- The Cougars had 17 hits and five walks in game two. Robakowski went 3-4 with six RBI, two doubles and a home run. Minnich was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with two doubles, an RBI and a sac bunt. Pierce hit 1-3 with a home run and three RBI, while Dowd hit 2-4 with a double and an RBI.
- Mia Werner earned the win in the circle after throwing 1.2 innings of relief and holding Grace to three hits.
- Huth threw 2.1 innings of relief in game two, striking out two Lancers and giving up two hits.
Up next, USF softball (10-4, 3-1) will host Goshen College for a league doubleheader at Westendorf Field on Saturday, March 15.
Cougar fans can stay updated on all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com.
