PULASKI, Tenn. --- A five-run inning in its final at-bat of Game 2 enabled the University of St. Francis baseball team to gain a sweep over University of Tennessee Southern on Saturday afternoon with 9-4 and 6-2 victories.

The Saints (3-4) took advantage of everything the hosts gave to them on the day, including five unearned runs in the back end of the twinbill.  Head coach Brian Michalak's club also scored on two hit batsmen, a wild pitch and a balk.

USF delivered 18 hits over the two games, including 12 in the opener.  Max Montgomery had the biggest bat with five hits on the day.  Dylan Scafuri and Nate Maliska added another three hits each with the former also driving in three runs.

Both starting pitchers – Anthony Panzella (1-1) and Jack Otis (1-0) – stayed in the game long enough to earn the victories on the mound.   

Game 1: USF 9, Tennessee Southern 4
The Saints used a pair of two-run innings early to build a comfortable 4-0 advantage before putting the game out of reach in the sixth inning with another four runs.  Mitchell Thomas drove in the first run, while Ethan Fleming and Scafuri each had RBIs in the third and sixth innings.

Scafuri was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while Maliska and Montgomery each had two hits at the top of the order.

Panzella did not allow a run in his 4 1/3 innings of work, aided by a Christian Rosales throw home from left field in the third inning resulting in a double play.  Quinn McGuire (1 2/3 innings) and Cristopher Villwock (1 inning) also threw shutout baseball, with McGuire retiring all five batters he faced.

Game 2: USF 6, Tennessee Southern 2
Leading 2-1 heading into the seventh inning, Tennessee Southern (6-6) had two plays at the plate result in throwing errors, making for four of the five runs scored by the Saints being unearned.  Dominik Alberico got things started with his lead-off double and Maliska and Montgomery added singles to keep the pressure on.

Montgomery's hit was his third of the contest and drove home the eventual winning run.  Scafuri also had a sacrifice fly in the frame.

Otis earned his first win as a Saint by going the first six innings before the uprising.  He struck out five batters.

Zac Blazekovich struck out another two in his one scoreless inning of relief.

Up Next
The Saints wrap up the three-game series on Sunday with a single game beginning at noon.

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