JOLIET, Ill. -- The University of St. Francis baseball team opened defense of its back-to-back Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season titles by earning a split decision with rival Calumet College of St. Joseph on Tuesday afternoon at Slammers Stadium. The Fighting Saints used a big three-run fifth inning to win Game 1 by a 5-3 count, while the Crimson Wave countered with a deciding three-run inning of their own to claim Game 2, 6-4.
Jake Klepacz (3-for-5) drove in a pair of runs on the day as did
Brayan Hidalgo, with each connecting for one of the Saints' three extra-base hits on the day.
Drew Dant joined the pair in registering a triple as part of a 2-for-3 showing at the plate in the nightcap.
Max Montgomery reached base five times between the two games with two hits and three walks.
Game 1: , USF 5, Calumet St. Joseph 3
Cliff Vickers went 2-for-3, while Montgomery, Hidalgo and Klepacz drove in one run apiece in the top half of the order to spark the 5-3 USF victory.
After allowing a run in the top of the first inning, the Saints plated two one-half inning later to take a 2-1 lead after the first frame of play. The Crimson Wave would regain the lead at 3-2 after scoring one run in the second and third innings before USF created some breathing room with a three-run fifth inning. Montgomery drove home one of the runs with Klepacz plating another with his sacrifice fly to center field. All three runs were the result of two defensive miscues by CCSJ.
Sean Michalak (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, working the full seven innings of the opener.
Game 2: Calumet St. Joseph 6, USF 4
St. Francis (5-12, 1-1 CCAC) opened Game 2 by scoring right off the bat. After Montgomery reached base via a five-pitch walk, a
Jake Klepacz RBI double followed by a
Nate Maliska RBI single gave the Saints a quick 2-0 lead.
Mitchell Thomas would tack on one more to the Saints' total one inning later with a RBI single of his own to plate
Alex Mielcarz.
The Crimson Wave (4-7, 1-1) would quickly cut their deficit in the third frame, plating two to make the score 3-2. The Saints' pitching staff cruised along through the next three innings, retiring nine of the next ten CCSJ batters before a two-out error followed by back-to-back base hits resulted in Calumet taking its first lead of the game 6-4 in the seventh inning.
St. Francis made things interesting in the ninth inning with Klepacz and Maliska reaching base on base hits to start the frame. The Crimson Wave, however, would coax a flyout followed by a game-ending double play to secure the 6-4 final score.
USF starter
Anthony Panzella struck out seven batters in his five innings of work. He would receive a no-decision in the contest.
Quinn McGuire (0-1) was saddled with the loss, despite not allowing an earned run, while striking out two batters in his four innings.
Up Next
The Saints will be back at home on Friday (March 14) facing Trinity Christian College in a two-game set before completing the four-game conference series in Palos Heights, Ill. on Saturday. Both doubleheaders are set to begin at 1 pm.
You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.
