JOLIET, Ill. --- Jake Merda drove in seven runs on the day and starting pitchers Jack Otis and Anthony Panzella combined for 16 strikeouts as the University of St. Francis baseball team opened its Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference season with 13-3 and 6-2 victories over Calumet College of St. Joseph on Friday at Slammers Stadium.

The doubleheader wound up being a day-night affair with the second game starting three hours late due to thunderstorms in the area.

That did not hold the Saints back from putting up 19 runs and 24 hits on the day.  Merda and Hayden Host each provided four hits on the day with the latter driving in another three runs.  Among Merda's hits was a two-run home run in the sixth inning of Game 1.

Nate Maliska also had a big day at the top of the order with his team-high five hits.

Otis (2-1) went the first six innings in the opener, where he struck out nine batters.  Panzella (2-1) went the seven-inning, complete game distance in the nightcap, striking out seven.  Both hurlers allowed two earned runs.

Game 1: USF 13, Calumet St. Joseph 3
The Saints scored early and often, including three three-run frames.  Six of the nine starters produced multiple hits, while four St. Francis batters drove in at least two runs.

Maliska and Host each delivered three hits with Host authoring each of his three runs batted in in the game.  Merda (3 RBIs), Ryan Louthan (2 RBIs), Brian Graves and Noah Munson all provided two hits.

Ethan Fleming (2 RBIs) joined Host, Merda and Louthan with multiple runs batted in.

Each of the first four batters reached base for USF in the first inning and 3-of-4 did so in the second, enabling the Saints to build a 5-1 advantage after the first two frames.

Otis (2-1) walked just one batter against the nine strikeouts, while scattering eight hits.  Quinn McGuire worked the final two innings.

Game 2: USF 6, Calumet St. Joseph 2
A pair of two-run singles in the third and fifth innings by Merda enabled the Saints to turn a 1-1 tie after two innings into a 5-1 advantage after five frames. 

Maliska had two of the other five hits for USF.

Panzella yielded just four hits and one walk against the seven strikeouts in going the seven-inning distance.

Up Next
The Saints complete the four-game set against Calumet St. Joseph at Oil City Stadium on Saturday with a 1 pm doubleheader.    

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