JOLIET, Ill. --- Behind seven solid innings from starting pitcher Angel Sandoval, the University of St. Francis baseball team wrapped up the regular season with an 8-2 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over St. Ambrose University Saturday afternoon at Duly Health and Care Field.

Sandoval only allowed one earned run on the day and it came after the Saints (28-25, 22-8 CCAC) had already built a 6-1 lead in the sixth inning. The other run he allowed, which came one inning earlier, was unearned.

One of 11 seniors recognized after the game, Sandoval scattered eight hits in the contest with four strikeouts against no walks. The right hander also got out of two big jams, which could have changed the scenario of the contest. 

After giving up hits to the first two batters of the game, Sandoval got out of that inning unscathed. Then, in the fifth inning with USF clinging to a 2-1 lead, St. Ambrose (30-12, 21-8) had the bases loaded with only one out before Sandoval coaxed an inning ending double play.

Dane McDonald and Nick Clemmons finished off the win with one scoreless inning each.

The Saints got each of their first two runs after two were out. Jake LaSota got a bloop single to left center field to begin the scoring in the third inning. Jake Vera added a pinch hit run scoring single in the fourth inning.

Two innings later, the Saints executed five perfect bunts leading to a four run uprising and separating themselves from the Bees. Luke Ketchum and John McGuire authored the first two bunts to load the bases. One out later, Vera and Jonathan Wolf performed the same bat trick to drive in a run each. Jon Peterson was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Noah Kararo provided the fifth bunt – a sacrifice – to put the Saints up 6-1.

USF's final two runs came on a Kararo double and a St. Ambrose error.

LaSota and McGuire led USF's 15 hit attack with three each. Kararo and Vera both went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.

Honored before the game were Clemmons, Hunter Darnell, Andrew Hancock, Kararo, Colin Kelly, Luke Ketchum, Dallas Matlock, Peterson, Sandoval, Villasenor, and Wolf.

Up Next
The Saints open up CCAC Tournament play on Thursday against a yet to be determined opponent at Duly Health and Care Field.  

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