MILLINGTON, Tenn. --- The University of St. Francis baseball team scored in double figures in both ends of its doubleheader versus Harris-Stowe State University (Mo.) to gain a sweep of the season-opening twinbill at USA Stadium on Friday afternoon by scores of 11-3 and 13-6.  The Saints used a six-run third inning in the opener and seven runs in extra innings to fuel the 2-0 start.

John McGuire had a big Opening Day, earning the win on the mound in the first game and totaling four hits and four runs batted in over the two games.  The Saints also collected six RBI from the third-base position on the day with Josh Kirnbauer and Alex Martinez each driving in three runs.

Game 1: USF 11, Harris-Stowe State 3
After both teams exchanged single runs in the second inning – USF's coming on an Alex Mielcarz double – the Saints put the game out of reach with a six-run third inning followed by a three-run fourth inning. 

McGuire drove in two of the runs in the third inning on a single up the middle.  Kirnbauer provided his RBIs on the day with a single in the third inning and a two-run double in the fourth.  It was one of two doubles in the game for Kirnbauer, who went 3-for-4 with the three runs batted in and two runs scored. 

McGuire produced the exact same offensive line, while allowing only one run on four hits over four innings on the mound.  He struck out three batters without yielding a walk in collecting his first victory of the season.

Quinn McGuire, John's younger brother, also tossed two scoreless innings, striking out four in the process, while allowing just one hit and one walk.

Other offensive stars in the game included Eric Maffie, who had two hits, two runs scored and one RBI.

Game 2: USF 13, Harris-Stowe State 6
After Harris-Stowe State forced extra innings with a two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Saints put a seven spot on the board in the eighth inning to claim the sweep on the day.

Martinez had the big hit in the inning with a bases-loaded triple.  Luke Ketchum (sacrifice fly), Jake LaSota (single) and Brayan Hidalgo (walk) also drove home runs in the inning. 

Hidalgo drove in three runs in the contest, including one on a solo home run to start a three-run sixth inning.  Ketchum (2 RBIs) also drove in a run in that inning with a single.
Maffie gained his first-ever win as a Saint on the mound by finishing out the seventh inning.  Zac Blazekovich threw a clean eighth inning.

Notes: Hector Carrillo, Nate Maliska, Max Montgomery, Jacob Jurka and Hidalgo all made their Saint debuts on Friday with Carrillo and Montgomery both scoring a pair of runs and the latter notching his first collegiate hit … Prior to yielding the game-tying home run in Game 2, Jurka was cruising along and just one out away from his first collegiate victory.  Up to that point, he had allowed just one run over 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and only one walk … USF is back in action on Saturday to face Georgetown College (Ky.) in a noon doubleheader at USA Stadium.

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