JOLIET, Ill. -- Saint Xavier University held the University of St. Francis baseball team to just five runs on Thursday afternoon as the Fighting Saints dropped 7-2 and 10-3 decisions to the Cougars in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action at Slammers Stadium.

The guests scored in each of the first three innings of the opener to jump out to a 6-0 lead before scoring in six of the nine innings to cruise in the nightcap.  USF (12-17, 8-6 CCAC) managed just five hits in the first contest, while yielding a double-digit run total for the tenth time this season in the second game.

Cliff Vickers (3 hits) and Nate Maliska (2 hits) were the only Saints to register multiple hits on the afternoon, while seven did so for Saint Xavier (13-15, 6-6) as part of a 26-hit attack.

Game 1:  Saint Xavier 7, USF 2
Saint Xavier used 10 doubles over the course of the seven-inning contest to cruise to the Game 1 victory.  The Cougars would plate runs in each of the first (one), second (two) and third (three) innings before adding one more insurance tally in the seventh inning.

Outside of a Vickers' two-run shot over the right field wall in the third inning, St. Francis would only see three runners reach second base throughout the duration of the contest.

Maliska connected for two singles in the game, while Jake Klepacz and Mitchell Thomas each authored one.

Game 2:  Saint Xavier 10, USF 3
USF starter Jacob Jurka tossed two scoreless innings to open Game 2 before the Cougar offense opened up to connect for two home runs and three RBI doubles over the next five innings that resulted in nine runs for the visitors.  The final Cougar run would come in the ninth frame via a sacrifice fly.

Down 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, St. Francis would cut its deficit to one run after pushing three runs across the plate.  After Brant Singler (single) and Thomas (walk) reached base to lead off the frame, Drew Dant was able to bunt for a base hit which resulted in Singler scoring USF's first run.  Vickers would follow with a RBI single to plate Thomas, with Jake Merda collecting the final RBI of the inning on a groundout to the pitcher.

Up Next
The Saints head to Chicago on Friday (March 28) to complete the four-game series against Saint Xavier University.  First pitch is at 12 pm at Richard R. Ferrell Memorial Field.

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