JOLIET, Ill. --- Three home runs over the first three innings jump-started the University of St. Francis baseball team to an early 8-0 lead as the No.5-seeded Fighting Saints began their climb through the elimination bracket of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Tournament with an 11-1 victory over Trinity Christian College on Saturday afternoon at DuPage Medical Group Field.
 

The first round-tripper came three batters into the contest when Josh Tesch (GR/Lockport, Ill.) (2-for-4) delivered his sixth home run of the season with his two-run shot to left field. After the Saints picked up an unearned run in the second inning, they put the game out of reach in the third with five runs book-ended by home runs from Joe McGuire (SR/Lockport, Ill.) (3-for-4), and Travis Schoonover (GR/Braidwood, Ill.).
 

McGuire's home run, also to left field, opened the inning before Schoonover closed it with a three-run mammoth shot to right field. For both players, it kept them tied for the team lead with seven home runs.
 

That was more than enough run support for starting pitcher Nick Villasenor (SR/Addison, Ill.), who was brilliant on the mound. After allowing a double to start the bottom of the first inning, he did not give up another hit until two outs into the fifth inning.
 

Villasenor would yield only three hits on the day, but faced only one batter over the minimum in his seven innings of work after two of the hits were wiped out by double plays.  He also struck out seven batters, while not permitting a walk.
 

Nick Clemmons (SR/Channahon, Ill.) and Michael Beaudoin (SR/Sycamore, Ill.) closed things out with an inning of relief each.
 

USF's final three runs came in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Shawn Harper (GR/Plainfield, Ill.) and a two-run single off the bat of Luke Ketchum (GR/Springfield, Ill.).  For the latter, it was part of a 3-for-3 day for him. He also reached base a fourth time when he was hit by a pitch.
 

With the victory, the Saints (22-19) kept their postseason run alive, where they next face No.2 seed St. Ambrose University on Monday at 1 pm.