JOLIET, Ill. --
Anthony Panzella allowed just four hits on the day in aiding the University of St. Francis baseball team to a 10-3 elimination bracket victory over Olivet Nazarene University in the 2026 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Slammers Stadium.
USF (21-29) posted three multiple-run innings within the first four innings of play to take a 9-0 lead before allowing three runs late to the Tigers (28-22) to keep the Saints' season alive.
Ryan Louthan (4-for-4) drove in three runs in the contest, while
Dominik Alberico (2-for-4) and
Dylan Scafuri (1-for-4) each took credit for two apiece with the trio going a combined 7-for 12 at the plate with four runs scored.Â
Max Montgomery (2-for-4) also chipped in two hits, while scoring three runs.
Panzella held the Tigers at bay throughout his first five innings of work on the mound, retiring the first 13 batters he faced and 15 of 16 total with the lone base runner reaching base via a defensive error in the fifth inning. In the sixth, Olivet would finally connect for its first of four hits in the game that would produce a single run before two walks in the seventh would account for the Tigers' other two runs in finalizing the score at 10-3.
For his efforts, Panzella (9-2) was credited with his ninth win on the season, with three strikeouts against the two walks.
Up Next
The Saints will take on Judson University in another elimination game on Friday (May 1) at 4 pm with the winner playing the loser of the St. Ambrose University (Iowa)/Saint Xavier University matchup at 7 pm.
You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.
