TUCSON, Ariz. --- Seventh-inning heroics earned the University of St. Francis softball team a doubleheader sweep on Thursday with the Fighting Saints rallying to defeat Madonna University (Mich.) 6-5 in the morning before scoring the only run of the game in walk-off fashion in a 1-0 victory over Concordia University (Neb.) in the afternoon.

The Fighting Saints (9-5) trailed by as many as four runs as late as the sixth inning against a Madonna team that entered the contest 20-1 before tying the game in the sixth inning and winning it in the seventh.  In the nightcap, Abby Sippel made her first collegiate hit a memorable one with her pinch-hit game-winner.

In the circle, Jordan Closs (3-1) tossed her second shutout in as many days, allowing only one hit in Game 2. 

Offensively, junior catcher Isabella Landeros (3-for-8, 2 runs, 1 RBI) had clutch hits in both contests.  She also caught a pair of runners attempting to steal.

Game 1: USF 6, Madonna 5
The opener looked to be a low-scoring affair through the first four innings with the contest tied at one-all up to that point.  USF put up its run in the first inning before Madonna got things tied in the fourth. 

The Crusaders (20-2) then appeared to break the game wide open with a four-run fifth inning highlighted by Alissa Gauthier's bases-clearing double.  But after producing just three hits through the first five innings of the contest and only one from the second through the fifth innings, USF's bats came alive in the sixth inning.

Emily Boyle's one-out single began the rally with Landeros driving home the first run on a double.  Then, with two outs, pinch-hitter Hailey Kaddatz coaxed a bases-loaded walk and Brittany Osborne followed with a game-tying two-run single to right field.

One inning later, Boyle again started the rally with her one-out single.  She then beat the throw on an attempted forceout at second base before moving to third base on a flyout. 

Starting pitcher Kiersten Manning (5-2) then got a victory for herself by driving in the eventual winning run on a single to center field to score Boyle.  She had to work out of a first-and-second situation with only one out in the bottom half of the inning, however, before sealing the win.

Osborne, Boyle and Landeros all had a pair of hits for the Saints.

Game 2: USF 1, Concordia 0
Closs ran her scoreless streak to 21 innings over four outings with Thursday's performance being the best of the bunch.  She struck out six batters against three walks, while allowing a season-low one hit and having just three runners get into scoring position.

The Saints had plenty of chances to score against Concordia (8-12), but left multiple runners on base in five of the first six innings.  Oddly enough, USF's seventh-inning rally did not start until the first two batters were retired with Landeros' first collegiate triple.  Two batters later, Sippel delivered the game-winner back up the middle.

Older sister Kaylie Sippel also had a big second game, going 3-for-4.

Notes: Kaylie Sippel had her eight-game hitting streak snapped in Game 1, but returned in Game 2 to notch her sixth multi-hit contest of the season … Osborne, who had her nine-game hitting streak come to an end in the Concordia contest, stayed one game ahead of Sippel with her seventh multi-hit affair in the opener … Despite having the team season-high hitting streak come to an end, Osborne's perfect 14-game streak of reaching base was extended by a fourth-inning walk … USF had a season-high seven walks in the Concordia game … The Saints tied their season-high win streak of three games on Thursday and have won five of their last six contests and eight of ten … St. Francis takes on Mayville State University (N. Dak.) (10 am) and Waldorf University (Iowa) (12 pm) on Friday.

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