Box Score JOLIET, Ill. --- Top-seeded Olivet Nazarene University rallied with four answered runs, including one in the top of the tenth inning, to send the University of St. Francis baseball team to its first loss of the 2022 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament following its 4-3 setback late Saturday night at Duly Health and Care Field.

The night opened well for the Saints (29-26), who scored all of their runs in the first inning. Noah Kararo started it with a one out triple and Eric Maffie drove him home with a sharp single up the middle. Two batters later, Luke Ketchum recorded his team leading 13th home run of the season to put USF up 3-0.

That, however, would be the majority of the offense on the night for St. Francis. After collecting two more hits in the second inning, the Saints had only two batters reach base between the end of the second and seventh innings. The only hit during that time was John McGuire's two out double in the sixth inning.

Head coach Brian Michalak's club put a runner in scoring position, as well, in both the ninth and tenth innings, but were denied each time by Olivet Nazarene.

Robert Jackman got Olivet Nazarene (36-15) back in the game in the sixth inning with his two run triple before the Tigers tied it one inning later when they scored on a wild pitch. 

Donovan Yelle provided an RBI single in the top of the tenth inning to bring home the winning run, which reached on a walk.

Of USF's eight hits on the night, only three came after the second inning. Maffie and Ketchum accounted for two of the hits in the contest.

Up Next
The Saints need a victory against No.3 seed Saint Xavier University to extend their season in the double elimination tournament. The two teams meet at Duly Health & Care Field at 1 pm on Sunday.   

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