JOLIET, Ill. -- Drew Dant's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be the game-winner as the University of St. Francis baseball team picked up its first win of the 2025 campaign with a 4-3 victory over visiting Georgetown College (Ky.) on Sunday afternoon at Slammers Stadium.  After losing a tight 4-3 contest in the front end of the doubleheader, the Saints (1-5) closed out the afternoon on a solid note with the come-from-behind win.

Mitchell Thomas, who opened Game 1 with a leadoff home run, collected three hits, scored a pair of runs and drove in two on the afternoon.  Dant also had a big day offensively, authoring RBIs in each end of the twinbill.  Thomas went 3-for-7 on the day, while Dant was 3-for-6.

Also posting a pair of hits on the afternoon were Nate Maliska and Brayan Hidalgo.

Game 1:  Georgetown 4, USF 3
After USF jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on Thomas' home run, Georgetown (3-7) drove in its first two runs with a triple followed by a sacrifice fly in the second inning to put the Tigers up 2-1.  St. Francis responded by taking advantage of a Georgetown fielding miscue in the bottom half of the inning to knot the game at 2-2. 

The guests upended the Saints' hopes for a Game 1 victory three innings later by opening the fifth frame with four straight hits to push two more runs across the plate.  St. Francis put its rally caps on in the seventh inning to make things interesting.  Maliska started it with a one-out single and scored one batter later on a Dant triple.  The Saints, however, were unable to connect with their next two batters to get Dant home with the tying run and force extra innings.

Anthony Panzella (0-1) got the start for USF and went the first 4 2/3 innings.  He struck out four batters in the contest.

Game 2:  USF 4, Georgetown 3
Similar to the first game, the Saints got in front early with one run in the second inning and one more in the sixth. The biggest runs, however, came in the eighth inning, including Dant's eventual game-winning two-out RBI single.  Thomas accounted for the other run in the inning, using his hustle to tie the contest at three-all.  His one-out single put him on base before he beat a throw to second base on a fielder's choice.  He then went to third on another fielder's choice before scoring on a two-out wild pitch.    

Dant's hit was one of two two-out RBI knocks for the graduate student third baseman in the game. He also had one in the sixth that plated Alex Mielcarz, who had just been inserted into the contest as a pinch runner.

USF's run in the third inning came courtesy of a Max Montgomery walk and a Thomas RBI single.

Georgetown overcame its 2-0 deficit in the seventh inning with two USF fielding errors allowing the Tigers to plate three unearned runs.  The guests scored their final two runs with a base hit to center field, but a successful 8-3-5 relay by St. Francis put out the flames for the final out.

Sean Michalak authored his second strong start on the mound, allowing just four hits, while striking out four over his seven innings of work.  He did not give up an earned run, while being credited with a no-decision in his 2025 home debut.

Zac Blazekovich (1-0) was credited with the win after keeping the lid on Georgetown's offensive output with two scoreless innings to finish out the game.

Up Next
The Saints will have one day of rest before taking the field again on Tuesday (Feb. 25) when they host Roosevelt University at Slammers Stadium.  First pitch is slated for 3 pm.

You can keep up with all things USF on X @USFSaints.