JOLIET, Ill. --- Scott Tumilty's walk off home run with one out in the bottom of tenth inning gave the University of St. Francis a 2-0 start to the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball season as the Saints knocked off defending CCAC regular-season and tournament champion Olivet Nazarene University 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at Duly Health and Care Field.

Tumilty also provided USF (6-15, 2-0 CCAC) with its other run on a two-out double down the left field line in the opening inning. That tally looked as though it might hold up in a pitcher's duel between Olivet Nazarene starter Ethan Underwood – last week's CCAC Pitcher of the Week – and the Saints' Nick Villasenor. Villasenor threw exactly 100 pitches in his best outing of the season. In nine innings, he allowed only five hits – three of which were on the infield – and one walk, while striking out three.

Underwood was equally as strong with his 107 pitches lasting through the seventh inning and allowing just the one run on ten hits. He struck out five batters against one walk.

Olivet Nazarene (8-13, 1-1) got its only run on a botched squeeze attempt that wound up working out in the end when a throwing error enabled Rod Lucas to score the tying run. That was one of only two innings where the Tigers were able to get a runner as far as third base off Villasenor.

USF, meanwhile, put a runner in scoring position in six of nine innings, including men on second and third base with two outs in the first, second and sixth innings. For the game, the Saints left 11 runners on base.

Tumilty's home run to right centerfield came just three pitches after he was denied first base when the umpire ruled that he leaned into a pitch in which he was hit. It was one of three hits on the day for him. Alex Martinez, Eric Maffie, and John McGuire added two hits apiece.

Watch Tumility's Walk-Off Home Run: https://bit.ly/3ieRRq0

Sam Pileggi (1-0) gained the victory for the Saints after tossing a scoreless tenth inning. He allowed only one batter to reach base (walk).

The contest was played in a rapid 2 hours, 12 minutes in 72 degree weather.

Up Next
The three-game weekend series continues on Saturday when the two teams meet in Bourbonnais for a 1 pm doubleheader.   

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