JOLIET, Ill. --- Alyssa Moreno saved the day for the University of St. Francis softball team on Tuesday afternoon at the Harlow Lockwood Softball Complex. After dropping a tough 4-3 decision in extra innings to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Cardinal Stritch University in the first game of a doubleheader, Moreno came off the bench to deliver a two out, two run single up the middle to send Saint fans home happy with a 6-5 second game victory.

St. Francis (13-7, 3-1 CCAC) used the same recipe for success in Game 2 that Cardinal Stritch employed in Game 1 with both teams rallying late. The Wolves (12-5, 1-3) scored three runs in the sixth inning of the opener to force extra innings before winning it in the eighth inning. USF, meanwhile, trailed 5-2 heading into its last at bat in Game 2 before putting up a four spot to gain the split decision.

Bridget McDermott and Madisen Tucker each had four hits to lead USF's offense, while Hannah Vachon allowed only one earned run over two relief appearances covering six innings on the day.

Game 1: Cardinal Stritch 4, USF 3 --- 8 Innings
The Saints were cruising along through the first five innings, having built a 3-0 lead up to that point. But after producing just three hits through that same time span, Cardinal Stritch opened the sixth inning with four hits among its first five batters to force the three all tie.

The Wolves then won it in the eighth inning when starting pitcher Hope Maes (7-3) helped her own cause by driving in the eventual game winning run with her infield single. It was one of two hits in the game for Maes.

McDermott accounted for three of USF's seven hits and one of the team's two RBIs. Gracyn Gabriel drove in the other run.

Game 2: USF 6, Cardinal Stritch 5    
Cardinal Stritch opened up a 4-1 lead after an inning and one half and stemmed St. Francis rally efforts in the middle innings with three separate double plays. The Saints, however, were finally able to break free in the seventh inning beginning with Danielle Callahan's walk to start the frenzy.

Back-to-back doubles from McDermott and Kaylie Sippel followed with Sippel's shot through the right side of the infield driving home the first two runs of the inning to make it a 5-4 contest. Tucker then coaxed the second walk of the frame before Kenna Kleinert executed a perfect sacrifice to put a pair of runners in scoring position and set the stage for Moreno's heroics.

Tucker was one of three Saints to produce multiple hits in the contest. She went a perfect 3 for 3 with two runs scored, including the tying fifth run. Brittany Osborne and Sippel each posted two hits.

Vachon (3-4) gained the win in relief. After Cardinal Stritch put up four hits in the first two innings, she limited the Wolves to just four hits and one run over the final five innings.

Up Next
The Saints wrap up a stretch of three doubleheaders in as many days on Wednesday when they head to Chicago to face Saint Xavier University with a 3 pm first pitch slated.

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