LEBANON, Tenn. - A come-from-behind victory highlighted the University of St. Francis baseball team's performance this Friday (Feb. 21) as the Saints rallied from a three-run deficit to notch their first victory of the season with a game-one 6-3 win over Cumberland (Tenn.), but falling 8-0 to the Phoenix in game two of a non-conference doubleheader at CU's Ernest L. Stockton Field.
 

With the weekend's series opening split, USF is now 1-4 on the season while its counterpart, Cumberland presently stands at 3-6 overall this spring.
 

Game 1: USF 6, Cumberland 3
 

USF picked up its first win of the season overcoming a 3-0 deficit by scoring twice in the fourth and then producing a four-run sixth inning output.
 

Cumberland broke a scoreless game in the bottom of the third with a trio of runs, the first two coming on a pair of RBI singles. The Phoenix tallied their third run on an infield RBI single.
 

In the top of the fourth, the Saints answered back as first baseman Foster Heise (JR/Lisle, Ill.) belted a solo home run over the right field fence to make it a 3-1 ballgame.  USF then added its second run of the inning on a RBI sacrifice flyout by catcher Adam Cibulka (SR/Grafton, Wis.), which scored shortstop Noah Kararo (JR/Oswego, Ill.). 
 

The Saints would claim the lead in the top of the sixth as a result of scoring four times. A throwing error by CU third baseman Jose Vera on Kararo's batted ball to third led to the inning's first run as second baseman John Peterson (JR/Palos Heights, Ill.), who had singled with one out and then stole second base, scored to tie the contest up at 3-3.  A walk to Adam Cibulka followed and Eric Maffie (FR/Coal Valley, Ill.) came in to pinch run for Cibulka. CU starting pitcher Seth Wyse (0-2) then issued another walk to outfielder Travis Schoonover (SR/Braidwood, Ill.) prompting a pitching change with reliever Wyatt Blessing taking the mound in a bases-loaded situation. Outfielder Shawn Harper (SR/Plainfield, Ill.) then tripled down the right field line to knock in all three USF runners and give the Saints a 6-3 advantage.    
 

Tyler Dome (SR/Orange, Calif.) (1-1), who came in relief of starting pitcher Angel Sandoval (JR/Garfield Ridge, Ill.) after three innings, picked up the victory with four innings of no-hit relief as he struck out four and had no walks. Dome retired the Phoenix in order the last two innings to preserve the Saints' win. Sandoval's pitching line was four hits, three runs (all earned) with three strikeouts and one base on balls in three innings of work. For CU, Wyse threw the initial 5.2 innings yielding six hits and runs apiece (one earned) to go with four walks and five strikeouts.
 

The Saints collected seven hits for the game with seven batters posting at least a hit led by Peterson's two-for-four performance at the plate.
 

Game 2: Cumberland 8, USF 0
 

The Saints' offense, which totaled seven base hits in the opener, was silenced in the nightcap as USF only recorded two hits. Schoonover and third baseman Josh Tesch (SR/Lockport, Ill.) each registered a single in game two for the Saints.
 

Cumberland snapped a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning with a run-scoring single to hold a 1-0 lead through the first three frames. The Phoenix would go on to produce a pair of big-run innings, scoring four times in the fourth on just one base hit and then adding three more runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning. 
 

In the fourth inning, two straight bases-loaded walks brought home the first two runs followed by an RBI sacrifice fly. The fourth run occurred on an unsuccessful stolen base attempt at second which gave the CU runner positioned at third an opportunity to come home. The Phoenix would pad to their lead two innings later with three additional runs as the first two CU hitters reached base on walks. Then with one out, Zeke Maldonado drove relief pitcher Nick Clemmons (JR/Channahon, Ill.)' pitch over the left center field fence for a three-RBI homer to close out the scoring. 
 

For USF, pitcher Colin Kelly (JR/Tinley Park, Ill.) (0-1) earned the starting nod and went the first three innings while allowing five hits, three runs (all earned), four walks, and striking out four CU batters. Clemmons came in to spell Kelly and threw two innings, issuing five bases on balls and scattering two hits. Michael Beaudoin (JR/Sycamore, Ill.), who entered the contest in the bottom of the sixth, was credited with one inning pitched and notched a strikeout while giving up one earned run to go with a base hit.  
 

Cumberland pitcher Daniel Alvarez (2-1) twirled a complete-game two hitter, which was highlighted by 10 strikeouts.  
 

Up Next

The two teams will meet again this Saturday (Feb. 22) for another two-game non-conference set in Lebanon, Tenn. Game one is penciled in for a 12 p.m. (CT) start with the second game to follow around 3 p.m. (CT).