BATESVILLE, Ark. --- The University of St. Francis baseball team outhit Lyon College 15-12 on the day, but the Saints could only push across one run in each end of their season-opening twin bill against the NAIA No.21 ranked Fighting Scots in falling by 2-1 and 4-1 counts Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon.
 

Game 1: Lyon 2, USF 1
 

A two-run home run to right field from Lyons' third batter of the game, Alan West, held up as the Saints left nine runners on base in the seven-inning contest. The hit was the only one allowed over three innings by USF starter Angel Sandoval (Garfield Ridge, Ill.) (0-1), who struck out five of the 11 batters he faced. 
 

Colin Kelly (JR/Tinley Park, Ill.), who was making his St. Francis debut, worked the final three innings on the mound. He struck out six of 12 batters, while permitting just a pair of singles.
 

The Saints had at least two runners on with only one out in three of the seven innings, including the second when they had the bases loaded, but could not score. They also had runners at second and third base with only one out in the seventh inning, but reliever Brock Beacham struck out the final two batters to earn his second save of the season.
 

USF's only run of the contest came in the second inning on Foster Heise's (JR/Lisle, Ill.) first home run as a Saint.
 

Josh Tesch (SR/Lockport, Ill.) and John Peterson (JR/Palos Heights, Ill.) each collected a pair of hits for USF.
 

Game 2: Lyon 4, USF 1
 

Tesch homered as part of a four-hit afternoon for him to give the Saints an initial 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the host Fighting Scots rallied with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and two more in the seventh to keep their perfect 5-0 record on the season intact.
 

Tesch was one of two Saints to record a pair of hits in Game 2 with Kevin Rada (SR/Valencia, Venezuela), one hitter behind him, accomplishing the same feat. 
 

USF had an opportunity to add to its lead in the fourth inning with runners on the corner and only one out, but a double play wiped out that threat. The Saints also had runners on second and third base in the ninth inning, but Beacham (Save No. 3) shut the door again with a strikeout sandwiched around a pair of groundouts.
 

Saint pitchers allowed nine hits and six walks on the day with two of the walks resulting in runs. Nick Clemmons (JR/Channahon, Ill.) (0-1) took the loss in relief.
 

Ryan Porras (2-0) worked the first eight innings to earn the victory.
 

Up Next

The Saints (0-2) conclude the three-game set with Lyon Sunday morning at 10 am.