BOURBONNAIS, Ill. --- For the second weekend in a row, the University of St. Francis baseball team notched a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference series victory with its split decision on Saturday at Watson Field, dropping the first game 13-1 before rallying late for a 5-4 second-game win.  Adding in its doubleheader sweep of the Tigers on Friday at Slammers Stadium, the Fighting Saints went 3-1 against ONU over the two days.
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A two-out St. Francis error in the second inning of Game 1 opened the floodgates for Olivet Nazarene, which scored nine runs total in the frame, eight of which were unearned.

In the nightcap, the Saints (12-15, 8-4 CCAC) held a lead until the sixth inning and then rallied in the eighth inning to prevail.

Jake Merda registered his second three-hit game of the series in the nightcap and finished the four-game set going 7-for-10 with a pair of runs batted in.  Cliff Vickers, Ethan Fleming and Drew Dant all provided one hit in each end of the twinbill.

Game 1: Olivet Nazarene 13, USF 1
Olivet Nazarene (11-14, 7-7) ran away with contest early, putting up the nine runs in the second inning, with all but the first one being unearned.  A two-out error led to the disastrous inning, which included seven ONU hits.

The Tigers would go on to score single runs in each of their next four innings en route to the baker's dozen of runs. 

USF's only tally came in the fifth inning, where the Saints recorded three of their six hits for the game.  Dant's double started the inning with Vickers' single advancing him to third base one out later.  Max Montgomery then drove Dant in on a fielder's choice.  Nate Maliska had the other hit in the frame.

St. Francis' six hits were registered by six different players, including Jaedon Martin, who collected his first hit at the collegiate level.

Game 2: USF 5, Olivet Nazarene 4
Trailing 4-2 heading into the eighth inning, the Saints had six of their first seven batters reach base in that frame, leading to a three-run rally.  Vickers and Alex Martinez opened with a walk and single, respectively.  One out later, Merda loaded the bases with his single before Jake Klepacz drove in the first run when he was hit by a pitch.  Singles by Fleming and Dant through the infield accounted for the other two RBIs to put St. Francis up 5-4.

Starter Frank Curbis pitched well through the first five innings before tiring late when he yielding three runs and four hits.  Cristopher Villwock came on in the seventh inning and closed the door on the ONU offense, allowing only two hits and striking out two in his three scoreless innings.  That enabled him to tie for the team lead in wins with three against no defeats.

USF's first two runs of the game came in the second inning via a two-out rally.  After Alex Mielcarz walked to put runners at first and second base, Vickers scored both him and Dant (hit by pitch) on a double to right field.

Brant Singler (2-for-4) joined Merda (3-for-3) in the two-hit club.

Up Next
The Saints are at Saint Xavier University on Friday (March 28) to start a four-game CCAC series with the Cougars.  First pitch of the doubleheader is at 12 pm.  The series continues on Saturday (March 29) with another doubleheader in Joliet.     

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.