JOLIET, Ill. -- The University of St. Francis softball team opened its three-game series against Judson University with a bang as the Fighting Saints scored a 10-0 five-inning mercy rule Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Eagles on Friday afternoon.
Emily Hurst, who opened the game with a first-inning two-run home run, collected two hits, scored a pair of runs and drove in two on the afternoon.Â
Jaelynn Taylor also had a big day offensively, authoring a three-run shot of her own over the left field wall as part of her two-hit, four-RBI day.Â
Isabella Landeros and
Morgan Smardo also authored two hits apiece at the plate, with Landeros going 2-for-3 and Smardo going 2-for-2.
Also posting at least one hit in the game as part of the Saints' 10-hit offensive attack were
Missy Saldana and
Sarah Viar.
Emily Boyle (18-6) picked up her 18th win of the season in the circle, allowing just two hits while striking out seven Eagles in her four innings of work.
After Hurst hit her home run to score St. Francis' first two runs to begin the game, the Saints took advantage of a pair of two-out defensive mistakes to plate a second pair of runs in the same frame to mark the score at 4-0. Viar then started a four-run, second-inning uprising with her RBI single to plate Smardo before Taylor drove in a trio of Saints with her towering blast to give USF an 8-0 lead.
The Saints then put up two more runs in the third inning to insure the eight-run rule with
Hailey Kaddatz (sacrifice fly) and Taylor (single) each taking credit for a RBI.
Up Next
The two teams continue their three-game series tomorrow (April 25) in Elgin, Ill. First pitch for the doubleheader is slated for 12 pm at the Judson University softball complex.
You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.
