Box Score ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- NCAA Division II Lewis University handed the University of St. Francis baseball team a lopsided loss on Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Fighting Saints 27-2 in a non-conference matchup at Brennan Field.

USF (19-27) managed just five hits in the seven-inning affair, but was able to coax five free passes from the Lewis pitching staff, two of which turned into runs for USF in the fifth inning.  After Mitchell Thomas and Nate Maliska each got hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, Alex Mielcarz and Brian Graves later produced RBI-singles to plate the two runs.

Max Montgomery, Jake Klepacz and Thomas recorded the other three singles for USF.

After scoring two runs in the first inning, Lewis (33-9) hit for the cycle in the second inning as part of its nine-run, eight-hit frame, which included two 3-run home runs.  The Flyers added runs in each of its remaining at-bats, including a four-run third inning, followed by a single run one inning later before scoring 11 times between the fifth and sixth stanzas.

Kai Formella was the lone Saint pitcher among eight that went to the mound that did not yield an earned run.  He pitched one inning and only allowed one hit, while producing three groundouts.

For the game, USF pitchers walked five and hit another three batters, while also yielding 25 hits.

Lewis' Mickey Kocen led all hitters in the contest, producing three hits in three at-bats, while falling a single short of the cycle.  He also drew a walk and scored three runs.

Up Next
The Saints will travel to La Crosse, Wis. to take on the V-Hawks of Viterbo University (Wis.) in a four-games conference series starting on Saturday afternoon (April 26) at 1 pm.

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