OWENSBORO, Ky. -- The University of St. Francis softball team opened its four-game, two-day trip to the state of Kentucky with a non-conference doubleheader split decision on Saturday afternoon.  The Fighting Saints (4-3) opened the day with a 3-0 defeat to Brescia University (Ky.) before coming away victorious a 10-3 decision to the Bearcats (3-5) in the nightcap.

Four Fighting Saint players were key parts of the 19-hit day, with six individuals producing multi-hit games.  Leading the way were Kylie Cook (four hits) and Missy Saldana (three hits, two RBIs), while Emily Hurst (four RBIs) and Jaelynn Taylor (1 RBI) each recorded two hits apiece at the plate.  Sarah Viar (three hits) and Morgan Smardo (two hits) also collected multiple hits for USF.

Game 1:  Brescia 3, USF 0
The Saints spread their offense out in the Game 1 loss with five Saints collecting one hit each. 

Kaitlyn Schofield (1-2) had a shutout going into the sixth inning before two hits and three free passes in the hosts' final frame led to three runs.  The junior hurler worked the full six innings in the circle, striking out two batters against four hits and the three walks.

Game 2:  USF 10, Brescia 3
Shaky defensive first and sixth innings for Brescia set up the Saints for the split decision on the afternoon.  After allowing two unearned runs in the first inning to the guests, the Bearcats would tack on a pair of runs in the bottom half of the same stanza before allowing the Saints to score a single run in the second, three runs in both of the third and fourth innings and one more unearned run in the sixth to wrap up their scoring on the day.

After Brescia tied the game at 2-2, the St. Francis would take the lead back when Saldana drove in Smardo (double) with a base hit up the middle in the second inning.  Saldana later provided a RBI-single in the fourth frame, with USF's two other runs in that inning coming off a passed ball and a Hurst RBI-single.  Hurst also provided the loudest hit of the afternoon via a towering three-run homerun over the left field wall in the third inning.  Cook and Taylor - who had each reached base previously off a single and double, respectively - would also score on the blast.

Emily Boyle (3-1) was credited with the win for USF in the circle, giving up seven hits while walking three in the complete game effort.

Up Next
The Saints wrap up their four-game set against the Bearcats on Sunday (March 1) with a second doubleheader matchup beginning at 11 am at Deaconness SportsPlex.

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