LEBANON, Tenn. --- The early innings in both ends of a doubleheader with Cumberland University (Tenn.) did the University of St. Francis baseball team in on Saturday (Feb. 22) as the Phoenix built a 5-0 lead after two innings in Game 1 and a 5-1 advantage after three innings of Game 2 to sweep the Saints 7-3 and 5-4 Saturday afternoon at Ernest Stockton Field.
 

The two victories also enabled Cumberland (5-6) to win the four-game weekend series, claiming three of the contests, while dropping the Saints to 1-5 on the campaign.
 

Game 1: Cumberland 7, USF 3
 

Cumberland built its early 5-0 lead on a Zeke Maldonado two-run home run in the first inning and five of the first six batters reaching base safely in the second inning leading to three more runs. Maldonado would finish the game with three hits in four at bats. 
 

The Saints got back into the contest with a two-out rally in the third inning. Josh Tesch (SR/Lockport, Ill.) and Kevin Rada (SR/Valencia, Venezuela) drove in one run each with singles, but the Saints would not threaten the rest of the way, getting only two runners to reach base over the final four innings. One of those was Eric Maffie (FR/Coal Valley, Ill.), who recorded his first collegiate home run in the seven inning. It was one of two hits on the day for the center fielder. 
 

Right fielder Travis Schoonover (SR/Braidwood, Ill.) also collected a pair of hits for the Saints, while Nathan Vaughn joined Maldonado in the two-RBI club for the hosts.
 

Nick Villasenor (JR/Addison, Ill.) (0-1) was dealt the loss on the mound for the Saints, while James Hatcher (2-1) gained the complete-game victory for Cumberland. 
 

Game 2: Cumberland 5, USF 4
 

In the second game, back-to-back doubles off Saint starter Kevin Kardas (SO/Hampshire, Ill.) (0-1) to begin the second inning sparked a four-run frame and left the Saints having to play catch-up the rest of the afternoon. It came right after USF took its only lead of the day (1-0) on an unearned run in the top half of the inning.
 

A steal of home by Shawn Harper (SR/Plainfield, Ill.) and Hunter Darnell's (SO/Plainfield, Ill.) first run batted in as a Saint on a base hit to center field put St. Francis within striking distance at 5-3 in the fourth inning. One inning later, the Saints closed the gap even further on an Adam Cibulka (SR/Grafton, Wis.) sacrifice fly that also put the potential tying run at third base only to be derailed by an inning-ending fly out.
 

Head coach Brian Michalak's club would not threaten in the final two innings, proving Mykel Gordon's solo home run in the third inning to be an all-important insurance run in the end. Gordon and Joey Fregosi each registered two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the winning Phoenix. Fregosi's two RBIs came on a single in the four-run second inning.
 

Nick Hoefling (1-2) lasted just long enough (4 1/3 innings) to pick up his first win of the season.
 

Up Next

The Saints begin Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Tuesday (Feb. 25) when they host Olivet Nazarene University at DuPage Medical Group Field. First pitch is slated for 3 pm.