JOLIET, Ill. --- A season-long seven-game homestand did not get off to the start that the University of St. Francis baseball team wanted on Saturday afternoon as the Fighting Saints dropped 5-0 and 20-6 decisions to Doane University (Neb.) at Slammers Stadium. Doane, which is among others receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll, ended USF's season one year ago in an elimination game at the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round.
The guests scored in each of the final three innings of the opener to break free from a 0-0 deadlock before using an 11-run second inning to cruise in the nightcap. USF (4-10) managed just four hits in the first contest, while yielding its highest run total of the season in the second game.
Max Montgomery (3 hits) and
Jack Salzeider (2 hits) were the only Saints to register multiple hits on the afternoon, while nine did so for Doane (12-2) as part of a 30-hit attack.
Game 1: Doane 5, USF 0
USF hurlers
Sean Michalak and
Quinn McGuire each tossed two scoreless innings to open Game 1 before Doane used four doubles over the fifth and sixth innings to turn a 0-0 tie into a 4-0 lead. The Tigers would add one more insurance tally in the seventh inning.
St. Francis' only baserunners came in the first and fourth innings, where the Saints split their four hits evenly. The first two were delivered by USF's first two batters of the game,
Mitchell Thomas and
Max Montgomery. Jake Klepacz and
Nate Maliska supplied the other two singles.
Game 2: Doane 20, USF 6
St. Francis matched Doane's two-run first inning in the bottom half of the frame on a
Cliff Vickers' lead-off home run and an
Ethan Fleming sacrifice fly before the guests would score the next 14 times without an answer from the Saints. The 11 runs in the second inning came on eight hits, two walks, two hit batsmen and one error with 16 Tigers coming to bat.
Montgomery and Salzeider each delivered a pair of hits with Salzeider (1 RBI) and Fleming (2 RBI) joining Vickers in driving in runs.
Up Next
The Saints and Doane wrap up the three-game set on Sunday at noon at Slammers Stadium.
You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.
