JOLIET, Ill. -- Scoring early and often, the University of St. Francis softball team extended its winning streak to three games with its 3-1 and 15-1 non-conference doubleheader sweep of Brescia University (Ky.) to close out its four-game series with the Bearcats on Sunday afternoon.

The Saints (6-3) had things in hand after the first two innings of both contests, scoring two of its first-game runs by that time and six of its 15 in the nightcap.

Missy Saldana drove in five runs on the day while Emily Boyle produced five hits.  The Saints registered four extra-base hits among their 23 total for the afternoon, including three doubles and a triple.

Game 1: USF 3, Brescia 1
The Saints scored their first run of the game in the first inning after three straight two-out singles allowed Kylie Cook to cross the plate with Emily Hurst taking credit for the RBI.  USF used the same formula one inning later when Saldana knocked in Boyle with a two-out single to left field. In the seventh, the Saints tacked on one more score to their tally with a RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Isabella Landeros.

Cook, Hurst and Sarah Viar each provided two hits in the contest.

Kaitlyn Schofield (2-2) picked up the win in the circle, tossing six scoreless innings - striking out seven batters while allowing just two hits - before giving way to Boyle, who pitched the final inning.  Boyle was credited with a save in wrapping up Game 1 with a one-run seventh inning while adding one strikeout to her season total.

Game 2: USF 15, Brescia 1
Juliana Anderson (2-for-3, 2 RBIs, 3 runs), Boyle (4-for-4, 3 RBIs, 3 runs) and Morgan Smardo (2-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 runs) combined to go 8-for-9 with seven RBIs at the bottom of the order with eight of the 15 runs scored in Game 2.  For Boyle, it capped off a 5-for-8 day at the plate for her.  Included among her hit count was a two-RBI triple which accounted for USF's final two runs in Game 2's 15-1 five-inning shortened game.

Saldana also drove in four runs with two hits in the contest.

Boyle (4-1) started Game 2, where she threw all five innings, striking out two against three walks in the win.

Up Next
The Saints are off for a week before they head to Florida for 12 contests over seven days starting with single games against Madonna University (Mich.) and Avila University (Mo.) on March 8.

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