JOLIET, Ill. --- John Peterson (JR/Palos Heights, Ill.) hit an inside-the-park home run and Michael Beaudoin (JR/Sycamore, Ill.) registered his first victory as a Saint enabling the University of St. Francis baseball team to gain a split decision in its home-opening twin bill at DuPage Medical Group Field on Saturday afternoon. USF claimed an 8-2 victory in Game 1 before falling 9-5 in the second game of its three-game series with Mount Mercy University.
 

The two teams, which are both now 2-7 on the campaign, complete the three-game set on Sunday in Joliet. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.
 

Game 1: USF 8, Mount Mercy 2
 

A six-run fourth inning sparked the first-game victory, all of which came after two outs and an error. Shawn Harper (SR/Plainfield, Ill.) started the scoring with an RBI single and Dolan Nicholson (SR/Denton, Texas) drove in two more runs with a single of his own one batter later. After Travis Schoonover (SR/Braidwood, Ill.) was hit by a pitch, Peterson delivered his three-run inside-the-park home run to center field.
 

USF's other two runs came in the initial frame where Josh Tesch (SR/ Lockport, Ill.) had an RBI triple and scored himself on a groundout by Kevin Rada (SR/Valencia, Venezuela).
 

Mount Mercy tallied their runs in each of the first two innings.
 

Peterson and Harper both collected a pair of hits for the winners.
 

Beaudoin (1-1) went the first five innings before giving way to Angel Sandoval (JR/Garfield Ridge, Ill.), who faced the minimum six batters over the final two innings.
 

Game 2: Mount Mercy 9, USF 5
 

In the nightcap, Mount Mercy jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first inning-and-a-half off USF starter Kevin Kardas (SO/Hampshire, Ill.) (0-2) and the Saints would only get within four runs the rest of the afternoon.
 

Harper collected three more hits and another run batted in in the nightcap to finish his day going 5-for-7 with 2 RBI. Adam Cibulka (SR/Grafton, Wis.) and Peterson also produced hits in each end of the twin bill to finish with three hits each on the day, while Rada posted a pair of hits in Game 2.
 

Mount Mercy starter Tanner Lohaus (2-1) worked the first six innings to gain the win before giving way to Brock Adams, who went the final three to pick up his first save of the season.
 

The Mustangs' Nick Sueppel went a perfect 5-for-5 in Game 2, where he drove in three runs, including two on a double in the fourth inning.