TUCSON, Ariz. --- Kiersten Manning had a scrapbook day for the University of St. Francis softball program on Monday, tossing a no-hitter at previously-unbeaten and NAIA No. 15-ranked Northwestern College (Iowa) in a 3-0 victory.  That was the second of two shutouts posted by Fighting Saint pitchers on the day with the other one being an 8-0 triumph over Waldorf University (Iowa) earlier in the morning.

Manning (4-1) also started the first game and struck out three batters in just one inning of work after the Saints staked her to a 7-0 lead in the initial inning.  For the two games combined, she allowed just one hit and had 12 strikeouts across eight innings.

Four Saints produced hits in each contest highlighted by Rose Mwaro (2-for-4) and her grand slam in the opener.  Brittany Osborne, Kylie Cook and Kaylie Sippel each had three hits at the top of the order with the latter also coming away with a sensational catch in foul territory.

Game 1: USF 7, Waldorf 0
Mwaro put the exclamation point on the seven-run first inning with her grand slam.  Emily Boyle also homered in the fourth inning to invoke the eight-run rule.  Jaelynn Taylor had a two-run single, as well, in the big first frame.

Jordan Closs (1-1) came on in relief of Manning and struck out seven batters over four innings without yielding a walk in gaining her first collegiate victory.  She scattered three hits.

Game 2: USF 3, Northwestern 0
Manning both opened her day with three strikeouts in Game 1 and then capped it by striking out the side in order to finish the no-hit gem against Northwestern (15-1).  She faced only five batters over the minimum (3 walks, 1 HBP, 1 error) and allowed just three runners to get beyond first base.

Manning threw 72 of her 118 pitches for strikes in registering the nine strikeouts in Game 2.

Smart baserunning got the Saints (6-4) their first run in the first inning when Cook (single) went all the way to third base on Sippel's bunt single after seeing the base unattended.  She then scored on a fielder's choice by Boyle, who, along with Taylor, drove in at least one run in each end of the twinbill.

Isabella Landeros and Taylor both provided insurance runs in the fourth inning with two-out, run-scoring singles.

Osborne, Cook and Sippel combined to go 6-for-10 at the top of the order with Taylor joining them in the two-hit club.   

Notes: In each of the last five games that she has started, Manning has not given up a run across 21 innings … Osborne has reached base safely in all ten games this year, while Taylor has done so eight times … Boyle had her team-high eight-game hitting streak snapped in Game 2.  That leaves Osborne and Sippel with the current longest hitting streaks at six games each.  In five of those contests, Osborne has authored multiple hits five times … On tap for Tuesday are contests against Briar Cliff University (Iowa) at 10 am and University of Jamestown (N. Dak.) at noon.

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