Softball

2008 GAME RECAPS
(Click on results to obtain box score)

MAY 7:
GRAND VIEW (IA) 3, USF 1
SAINT XAVIER 4, USF 2

DES MOINES, Iowa – University of St. Francis could not hold on to an early two-run lead and was eliminated from the NAIA Region VII Championship softball tournament Wednesday with a 4-2 loss to rival Saint Xavier University. The Saints, who finished the season with a 28-21 record, dropped their first game of the day in a 3-1 loss to host Grand View College.

USF scored twice in the top of the third inning against Saint Xavier (27-20). Starting pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) opened the inning with a double and advanced to third on a single by freshman designated player Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL). Sophomore left fielder Maggie O’Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) drove home the first run with a sacrifice fly. Sophomore Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) moved Arrington to third with a base hit and senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) knocked home the second run with an infield single.

Saint Xavier cut the lead to 2-1 with a run in the third and then took the lead for good with a pair of tallies in the fourth inning. The Cougars added one insurance run in the sixth.

Redman closed out her St. Francis career with a pair of hits in the game. Behrens also had two singles.

USF scored first in the Grand View loss as well, notching an unearned run in the top of the third inning. Freshman right fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) beat out an infield single with two outs and then raced all the way home when sophomore Beth Boezeman’s (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) single to right skipped past the Grand View right fielder for an error.

Grand View (27-21) scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning with the aid of one USF error. After the Vikings’ leadoff hitter reached first on that error, Grand View strung together three straight hits to push three runs across the plate.

Malacina started on the mound for USF and suffered the loss. She struck out six batters in four innings, allowed five hits and was charged with a pair of earned runs. Boezeman pitched the final two frames and allowed one hit with one strikeout.

MAY 1:
USF 6, ROBERT MORRIS 2
USF 3, JUDSON 2 (8 inn.)
OLIVET NAZARENE 7, USF 1

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Thursday was a long but very productive day for University of St. Francis at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship softball tournament.

The second-seeded Saints (28-19) won two of three games to finish third in the field of six teams behind only No. 1-seeded Olivet Nazarene and third-seeded Saint Xavier who will play each other Friday for the tourney title. SXU is unbeaten and would have to lose twice to ONU to not win the tournament title.

With victories over No. 4 seed Robert Morris and No. 6-seed Judson and a loss to Olivet Nazarene, the Saints clinched an at-large berth in next week's NAIA Region VII Championship tourney at Des Moines, Iowa.

USF got a strong pitching performance and a critical two-run home run from freshman Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) in the 6-2 morning victory over Robert Morris. Malacina worked the first five innings and allowed just one run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks. Her two-run homer came in the fourth inning and gave USF some breathing room with a 4-1 lead. The Saints also got RBI's from sophomore Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL), Lynley Louzensky (Tinley Park H.S./Oak Forest, IL) and Maggie O'Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) and freshman Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL).

The Saints clinched third place in the tourney with a thrilling 3-2 extra-inning game that immediately followed the Robert Morris contest.

Boezeman pitched the first five-and-two-thirds innings before giving way to Malacina. Boezeman then won the game for Malacina with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning that scored sophomore Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) who started the winning rally by reaching on an error.

Senior Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) had staked USF to a 2-0 lead with a fifth-inning home run, her first of the season. Redman finished the game with three hits.

A tired USF squad battled 10th-ranked Olivet Nazarene in the final game of the day and trailed just 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Olivet scored three times in the fourth and once more in both the fifth and sixth innings to put the game away. The first five Tiger runs in the game were unearned against tough-luck losing pitcher Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL). The junior scattered eight hits in four-plus innings.

USF scored its only run on a solo homer by Louzensky in the second inning, her first round-tripper of the year.

The Saints will learn their seeding and first-round Region Tourney opponent on Saturday when the brackets are announced.

APRIL 30 (CCAC Tourney):
SAINT XAVIER 2, USF 1

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- University of St. Francis freshman pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) limited Saint Xavier to just three hits in seven innings but all three were doubles and two drove in runs as the third-seeded Cougars edged the second-seeded Saints, 2-1, in a first-round game at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference softball championship tournament on Wednesday.

Malacina was perfect through the first four innings and she staked herself to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a run that scored on her two-out double to left-center field. The Saints had an opportunity to add two more runs but sophomore left fielder Maggie O'Shea's (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) wicked line drive was right at the SXU third baseman and USF stranded runners on second and third base.

Saint Xavier promptly tied the game in the top of the fifth on a pair of doubles by Courtney Murphy and Gianna Pavone.

USF stranded one runner each in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings and the score remained tied heading into the seventh.

The Saints appeared to be headed for a one-two-three inning in the top of the seventh but a costly two-out error gave Saint Xavier new life. The Cougars jumped on the opportunity when Pavone belted her second double of the game and drove home the eventual winning run.

USF got a two-out single from senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) in the bottom of the seventh but the game ended when sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) hit a soft line drive that was caught by the SXU shortstop.

Malacina (13-8) pitched very well in a losing cause. She gave up just the three doubles and one earned run in seven innings, with seven strikeouts and no walks. Freshman catcher Carolyn Rupsis (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) was the lone Saint with more than one hit as she laced a pair of singles in three at bats.

Prior to the game, four USF players were named to the CCAC all-conference first team. The group included Redman, Behrens, Malacina and sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL).

USF now must fight its way through the loser's bracket. The Saints play Robert Morris at 10 a.m. Thursday and a victory in that game will send them to a noon elimination contest with Judson. A win over Judson will give the Saints a chance to play for the third time in one day when at 4 p.m. they would face the loser of the 2 p.m. game that features host Olivet Nazarene and Saint Xavier.

The tourney concludes on Friday and USF would have to win two more games that day to claim the title.

Even if USF does not win the CCAC tourney, the Saints could still claim an at-large berth in the NAIA Region VII tourney to be held in Des Moines, Iowa next week. The at-large berths will be announced after the conclusion of both the CCAC tourney and the Midwest Collegiate Conference tourney later this week.

APRIL 26:
USF 9, GRACE (IN) 3
MARIAN (IN) 9, USF 7

WINONA LAKE, Ind. --- Big first innings served as the deciding factors in each of University of St. Francis’ final two regular-season contests as the Lady Saints scored five runs in the opening inning of an 8-3 win over Grace College (Ind.) before giving up six runs to start off an eventual 9-7 loss to Marian College (Ind.) at the Grace Round Robin on Saturday.

The split left the Lady Saints 26-17 overall heading into the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Olivet Nazarene University.  USF enters the six-team, double-elimination tournament as the No. 2 seed and will play at 1 p.m. on Wednesday against a team to be determined.

The Lady Saints opened the first game with five straight hits, the last three being back-to-back-to-back doubles by freshman designated player Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL), sophomore first baseman Lynley Louzensky (Tinley Park H.S./Oak Forest, IL) and sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL). Arrington and Boezeman’s hits drove in a pair of runs each with senior right fielder Brittney Smith (Shepard H.S./Alsip, IL) delivering the fifth run on a groundout.

Arrington (2-for-3) collected her third RBI on a sacrifice fly in a three-run fifth inning when the Lady Saints extended their lead to 8-2. 

Freshman catcher C.J. Rupsis (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) also plated a pair of runs with two sacrifice flies.

No less than five Saint players authored two hits in the affair, including freshman left fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) and Louzensky.

Freshman Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) (13-7) struck out six batters in five innings to gain the victory.

In the nightcap, Boezeman provided USF with an initial 1-0 lead on her RBI single in the first inning, but gave that right up allowing the six runs in the bottom of the inning, five of which came after two outs.

St. Francis made things interesting in both the third and seventh innings.  In the former frame, the Lady Saints took advantage of three Marian errors to score four times and cut the run differential to 7-5.  Boezeman, who finished the doubleheader going 5-for-7 at the plate with 5 RBI, accounted for two of the runs with her second two-run double of the day.

After Marian extended its advantage back up to 9-5 with two runs in the fifth, the Lady Saints scored twice in the seventh and had the go-ahead run at the plate with two outs before succumbing.

Senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL), like Boezeman, rang up five hits on the day and scored five times.

The second-game loss, which was dealt to Boezeman (6-3), snapped USF’s season-high six-game winning streak.

APRIL 22:
USF 6, CARDINAL STRITCH (WI) 0
USF 9, CARDINAL STRITCH (WI) 0

JOLIET --University of St. Francis freshman pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) was perfect on Tuesday afternoon, and she and her Saint teammates were perfectly happy with the end result of a doubleheader sweep of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Cardinal Stritch at the Inwood Softball Complex.

The two wins clinched second place in the CCAC standings for USF (25-16, 14-4) and will give the Saints a first-round bye in next week's double-elimination conference tournament at Olivet Nazarene.

Malacina retired all 21 batters she faced in game one -- including 12 via strikeouts -- and completed her second no-hitter in as many days with a 6-0 win. The Lockport High graduate fired a five-inning no-hitter -- with one batter reaching on an error -- in USF's 9-0 win in the second game of a Monday sweep at CCAC rival Trinity Christian.

Malacina, 12-7, was never really threatened by Cardinal Stritch on Tuesday. None of the nine hitters that put the ball in play forced USF fielders to make difficult defensive plays.

The Saints got the only run they eventually needed in the third inning on doubles by freshman catcher Carolyn Rupsis (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) and senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL).

USF opened the game up with a four-run fourth that featured run-scoring singles by sophomores Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.s./Frankfort, IL) on a squeeze bunt and Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) and an RBI triple by sophomore Maggie O'Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN). Freshman shortstop Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) drove home the final run in the fifth and was the lone Saint with two hits in the game.

USF jumped on Stritch quickly in game two, notching a pair of first-inning runs and adding four in the third and three more in the fourth.

Freshman catcher Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) had the biggest game at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and four RBI. Dolan, Boezeman, sophomore first baseman Lynley Louzensky (Tinley Park H.S./Oak Forest, IL) and senior designated player Lisa Tharp (Wheler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) each added two hits apiece.

Boezeman (6-2) got the pitching win, allowing just two hits in four innings. Stritch did not get a runner on base until there was one out in the third, as Malacina and Boezeman retired the first 28 batters in the doubleheader. The hits in the top of the third ended USF's streak of no-hit innings at 15.

USF concludes its regular season on Saturday with nonconference games against Grace (Ind.) and Marian (Ind.) at the Grace campus in Winona Lake, Ind.

APRIL 21:
USF 7, TRINITY CHRISTIAN 6
USF 9, TRINITY CHRISTIAN 0

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. -- University of St. Francis rallied to win the first game, 7-6, and then blanked Trinity Christian 9-0 on a five-inning no-hitter by freshman Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) in the second game.

USF (23-16, 12-4) kept its hold on second place in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Association with the two road wins.

The Saints let a 1-0 lead get away in game one when a dropped popup with two outs in the bottom of the second inning opened the door for four unearned runs for the Trolls.

USF closed the gap to 4-2 on a fourth-inning solo home run by sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL).

TCC (4-19, 2-10) scored two more times in the bottom of the fourth and put the favored Saints in a 6-2 hole. But USF recovered, scoring once in the fifth, three times in the sixth to tie the game and once in the seventh to take a 7-6 lead. Sophomore first baseman Lynley Louzensky (Tinley Park H.S./Oak Forest, IL) drove in the run in the fifth and senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) tripled home two runs in the sixth and scored the tying run on a base hit by freshman right fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL).

Sophomore Maggie O'Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) drove home the winning run with a two-out double in the seventh.

Boezeman (5-2) was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) and Malacina got the final two outs to earn the save.

Malacina was nearly perfect in game two. The only runner to reach base against her came in the fourth inning on an error. Malacina (11-7) struck out two.

The Saints clubbed 12 hits in the second game, with Boezeman collecting three and three RBI. She homered again in the nightcap, giving her six on the season and five in her last seven games. Louzensky also had three hits and drove in two runs.

USF closes out its home schedule and its regular-season CCAC slate Tuesday at 3 p.m. with a doubleheader against Cardinal Stritch (WI) at the Inwood Softball Complex.

APRIL 20:
ROGERS STATE (OK) 11, USF 1
USF 8, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 5

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. --- After being limited to one run in each of its first two games at the University of Illinois Springfield Tournament, University of St. Francis came alive in the finale, defeating the host Prairie Stars, 8-5, Sunday morning.

Prior to that contest, USF (21-16) concluded its suspended game with NAIA No. 11-ranked Rogers State University (Okla.), dropping an 11-1 decision.  St. Francis had trailed 4-0 in the second inning when rain halted play on Saturday, but that did not hold back Rogers State, which added six more unearned runs in the second inning and another run in the third on Sunday.

USF managed its only run – an unearned one – in the third inning on a throwing error following a force out as the Saints were limited to just three hits in the game.

Senior righthander Lisa Tharp (Wheeler H.S./Hobart, IN) (0-2) suffered the defeat.

In the nightcap, USF paid Illinois Springfield back for a 13-5 defeat earlier in the year (April 5) by scoring multiple runs in three of its six at bats, led by sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL).  Boezeman went 4-for-4 at the plate with a key two-run home run in the sixth inning.

Falling behind 1-0 after one-half inning, the Saints took advantage of Allie Leight’s wildness on the mound for Illinois Springfield.  Leight hit sophomore designated player Maggie O’Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) with the bases loaded to tie the contest and then forced the second run home with her second walk of the inning.

Freshman third baseman Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) made it a 3-1 game in the second with her two-out, line-drive single to centerfield.

After UIS pulled to within 3-2 in the fourth, the Saints again took advantage of the card they were dealt scoring a pair of runs on an unsuccessful force out at home and the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.

UIS got all three of those runs back in the top of the sixth on three walks and three of its six hits for the game to again pull within one run, 6-5, before Boezeman added the insurance.

Freshman Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) gained her 10th victory against seven losses by working the first four innings.  Junior Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) earned her first save of the season with one inning of scoreless relief.

APRIL 19:
McKENDREE 4, USF 1

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. --- University of St. Francis’ first day at the University of Illinois Springfield Tournament did not get off to a good start as the Lady Saints fell behind early in each end of a pair of games, dropping the opener, 4-1, to McKendree University before Mother Nature intervened in the second game.

St. Francis (20-15) trailed NAIA No. 11-ranked Rogers State University (Okla.), 4-0, after just one inning in the nightcap when the umpires ruled the field unplayable due to a mist that started just prior to the first pitch and got heavier as the inning progressed. USF was up to bat in the second inning with one on and one out when play was suspended until Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.

USF’s first game was much the same story with the Saints falling behind 3-0 after the first half-inning. Courtney Aldridge’s two-run double was the big hit in the inning. She added a solo home run in the sixth.

Neither team would score over the next four innings with St. Francis managing just one hit through the first five, a single by freshman rightfielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) just two batters into the contest. McKendree starter Amy Quirin faced the minimum 14 batters over the next 4 2/3 innings before USF sophomore centerfielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) broke things up with a leadoff single in the sixth inning. Behrens eventually came around to score when sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) walked with the bases loaded.

That accounted for all of St. Francis’ offense, which mustered up just four hits in the game, two by Shell.

Freshman Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) suffered the loss on the mound, dropping her record to 9-7 on the season.

APRIL 17:
USF 20, JUDSON 9
USF 9, JUDSON 1

JOLIET, Ill. -- It was not your father's softball doubleheader for University of St. Francis and Judson on Thursday afternoon at the Inwood Softball Complex.

The first inning of game one of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference twin bill saw 24 runners cross the plate and took nearly an hour.

Judson opened the game with a nine-run top of the first. The lead, though, didn't last long.

"I told the girls when they came off the field after the top of the first about the old Peanuts cartoon," said USF head coach Dick Smith. "Charlie Brown was getting roughed up as usual and the team came to a conference on the mound and said, 'Charlie Brown, what are we going to do. It's still the first inning and we're behind 72-0.' Charlie Brown calmly told his pals, 'Don't worry gang. We haven't even batted yet.'

"Then our girls went out there and took care of business in our half of the first. They were not about to give up," continued Smith.

USF (20-14, 10-4) outdid the Eagles (18-17, 9-8) in the first frame. The first 16 Saints' batters reached base safely on 12 hits, two walks, a hit batter and a fielder's choice. USF finished the marathon first inning with 15 runs on 13 hits.

So, after one inning, it was USF 15, Judson 9.

USF junior starting pitcher Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) then settled down and blanked Judson on just three hits the rest of the way.

The Saints added five more runs in the third inning, capped by a two-run double by first baseman Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) and a two-run homer by Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL).

Game two was a little more conventional.

The Saints got one run in the first on Caitlin Dolan's (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) solo home run and Judson pushed one across in the third to tie the game.

USF took the lead for good with a three-run fourth which featured Boezeman's second homer of the day.

The Saints pushed the margin to eight runs with five more tallies in the fourth and the eight-run rule ended the game after the top of the fifth.

Freshman pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) fired a one-hitter in the second game and struck out 11.

On the day, Boezeman went 6-for-7 with the two home runs, a double and eight RBI. Dolan was 4-for-7 with the home run, a double and five RBI. Arrington went 3-for-6 with two doubles and three RBI and sophomore left fielder Maggie O'Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) also had four hits on the day.

USF has now won four straight games, all CCAC affairs, and owns sole possession of second place in the league standings behind only Olivet Nazarene.

USF travels to Springfield this weekend to participate in the University of Illinois Springfield Classic on Saturday and Sunday. The Saints resume CCAC play with a doubleheader at Trinity Christian on Monday and then play host to Cardinal Stritch on Tuesday in their final home games and final CCAC games of the regular season.

APRIL 15:
USF 7, TRINITY INTERNATIONAL 5
USF 9, TRINITY INTERNATIONAL 8

DEERFIELD, Ill. — University of St. Francis overcame five Trinity International home runs and swept a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader from the Trojans Tuesday afternoon.

USF (18-14, 8-4) snapped a three-game losing streak and earned its third CCAC sweep in six conference doubleheaders.

The Saints fell behind 3-0 in the first inning of game one thanks to back-to-back home runs by TIU (2-24, 1-10). USF scored twice in the third inning on an RBI triple from senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) and a run-scoring ground out from freshman second sacker Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL).

USF took the lead with three more runs in the fourth with Redman accounting for the only RBI.

After TIU tied the game with another home run -- a two-run shot in the fifth -- USF pushed across the gamewinners in the top of the sixth on Redman's run-scoring bunt single and a TIU throwing error.

Redman and sophomore left fielder Maggie O'Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) each had three hits in the opener. Sophomore right-hander Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) took over on the mound with one out in the first and finished the game. She allowed just two runs on eight hits.

USF took a different route to its second game win. The Saints never trailed but did let leads of 7-0 and 9-3 nearly get away.

O'Shea's solo homer started a six-run second inning that featured a two-run double by freshman first baseman Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) and run-scoring singles from Dolan and sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL).

USF added another run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a seemingly comfortable 9-3 lead.

TIU, though, came back strong with a five-run sixth inning that included a three-run home run that cut the lead to just 9-8.

Junior right-hander Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL), who started the game on the mound and left in the fourth inning, re-entered as a reliever and retired five of the six batters she faced to preserve the win and give the Saints the sweep.

Dolan led the Saints' offense in game two with three hits and a pair of RBI. Arrington, Behrens and freshman catcher C.J. Rupsis (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) each added two hits and Redman recorded a two-run double.

USF plays host to Judson Thursday at 5 p.m. in another CCAC twin bill at the Inwood Softball Complex.

APRIL 14:
OLIVET NAZARENE 12, USF 3
OLIVET NAZARENE 10, USF 2

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — No. 14-ranked and Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference-leading Olivet Nazarene University pounded out 25 hits over two games and handed second-place University of St. Francis a pair of league losses Monday at the Tigers’ softball complex.

The host Tigers (34-4, 11-0) jumped on USF starting pitcher Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) for four runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back in game one.

ONU added a single run in the second, six more in the third and one last tally in the fourth to build a 12-0 lead.

USF avoided the shutout with three runs in the top of the fifth but could not keep the game from ending in the fifth due to the eight-run rule. An run-scoring groundout off the bat of freshman catcher Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) and a two-run double from sophomore first baseman Lynley Louzensky (Tinley Park H.S./Oak Forest, IL) accounted for the USF tallies.

USF managed just five hits in the game with Louzensky getting three of them with a strong 3-for-3 performance. Sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) and freshman right fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) each went 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Olivet again pounced on USF in game two. The Tigers managed to get one unearned run in the first but blew the game open with a five-run second inning.

USF closed the gap to 6-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the third courtesy of a two-run single off the bat of freshman pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL).

The score remained 6-2 until ONU notched four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to push the margin to eight and end the game.

USF again was held to five hits in the contest. Senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) was the only Saint with more than one hit as she finished the nightcap 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The losses dropped USF to 16-14 overall and to fourth place in the CCAC standings with a 6-4 league mark. Olivet Nazarene improved to 34-4 overall and to a perfect 11-0 in CCAC play.

USF has now lost three in a row and seven of its last nine.

The Saints play two more CCAC games on the road Tuesday, traveling to Deerfield to face Trinity International University in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

APRIL 9:
SAINT XAVIER 4, USF 3

CHICAGO, Ill. — University of St. Francis let a 3-0 lead in the second inning get away with three Saint Xavier runs scoring on passed balls as the host Cougars won the second game of a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader that was suspended Tuesday due to rain.

The game picked up Wednesday in the top of the second and USF (16-12, 6-2) scored once to push its lead to 3-0.

Saint Xavier (12-14, 8-6) got one run back in the bottom of the second and two more in the fourth with all three tallies crossing the plate after pitches got away from the USF catcher.

The Cougars scored the eventual game-winner in the fifth on a two-out double to center field. That was SXU's only earned run of the game.

USF had taken a 2-0 lead on Tuesday on a first-inning suicide squeeze bunt by Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) and a run-scoring double one out later off the bat of Maggie O'Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN). The Saints' third run scored in the second inning on an SXU error.

USF got six of its eight hits from three players who had two safeties apiece. Freshman Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) and sophomore Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) each had two singles and O'Shea had a single in addition to her RBI double.

Despite the loss, USF kept hold of second place in the CCAC standings with its 6-2 league mark. The Saints trail only unbeaten Olivet Nazarene (7-0) and are one game ahead of Robert Morris (5-3) and one-and-one-half games up on Judson (7-4).

USF is scheduled to travel to Mount Pleasant, Iowa on Friday and Saturday to play five games at the Iowa Wesleyan Classic.

Next week is a critical week of CCAC play for USF. The Lady Saints travel to Bourbonnais for a Monday doubleheader against league-leading Olivet Nazarene and follow that Tuesday with a trip north to Deerfield for a pair against Trinity International. USF returns home next Thursday for a league twin bill with Judson at the Inwood Softball Complex.

APRIL 8:
USF 4, SAINT XAVIER 3

CHICAGO, Ill. — Freshman right-hander Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) scattered six hits over seven innings and went the distance to lead University of St. Francis to a key Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference 4-3 road win over Saint Xavier. Game two of the doubleheader was stopped in the top of the second inning due to rain with the Saints leading 2-0 and will be resumed Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The Saints (16-11, 6-1) scored once in the top of the first on a run-scoring single from sophomore first baseman Lynley Louzensky (Tinley Park H.S./Oak Forest, IL) which drove home senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) who had started the inning with a walk.

After Saint Xavier (11-14, 7-6) tallied twice in the third to take a 2-1 lead, USF came back with two of its own runs in the fifth to re-take the advantage. Sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) started the inning with a bunt single and came all the way around to score on a throwing error which followed another bunt single from freshman right fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL). USF then grabbed the lead when Shell scampered home on another SXU throwing error one out later.

The host Cougars tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but again USF responded.

Shell drew a two-out walk and promptly stole second on the first pitch to freshman designated player Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL). Shell then raced home on Arrington's line-drive single to center field.

Malacina gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh but retired the next three hitters to push her record to 8-5. She allowed three earned runs, walked two and struck out a pair.

Six different players had one hit apiece for USF.

The Saints remain in second place in the CCAC, just one game back in the loss column to league-leading Olivet Nazarene. USF is 6-1 and ONU stands 7-0.

APRIL 6:
McKENDREE 7, USF 6
USF 6, HARRIS-STOWE STATE (MO) 2
LINDENWOOD (MO) 8, USF 5

TRENTON, Ill. -- Saturday's scheduling problems at the McKendree University Invitational site forced University of St. Francis to play three times on Sunday, including an 8 a.m. opener after the Saints didn't finish until nearly 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

USF let a 5-1 lead get away against host McKendree and dropped the early morning game by a 7-6 count. USF was leading 5-4 until a costly error with two outs in the bottom of the sixth led to three unearned runs and put McKendree ahead 7-5.

Sophomore Lynley Louzensky (Tinley Park H.S./Oak Forest, IL) went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Sophomore Maggie O'Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) also went 3-for-4 and scored twice, and sophomore Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) enjoyed a 3-for-4 game that included a two-run single in USF's four-run second inning.

The Saints got their only win of the trip with a 6-2 verdict over Harris-Stowe State (MO). USF led just 1-0 through six innings but exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh to open up the game.

The big inning included RBI hits off the bats of freshmen Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL), Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) and Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL). O'Shea also had an RBI double. Sophomore Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) pitched the distance for the win.

The trip concluded with an 8-5 loss to Lindenwood (MO). Again, the Saints took the early lead at 1-0 but Lindenwood responded with a three-run second inning and a five-run third. USF rallied with three runs of its own in the fourth and one more in the sixth but still fell short. Senior Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) had two hits and Shell added two more hits and an RBI. O'Shea also had an RBI single.

USF plays a key Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at Saint Xavier on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

APRIL 5:
ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 13, USF 5

TRENTON, Ill. -- University of St. Francis dropped its first game at the McKendree University Invitational on Saturday. Originally scheduled to play a pair of afternoon games, issues with an unplayable field limited the tourney to just one diamond and forced the Saints to wait until 8:30 p.m. to play their only contest of the day.

The Saints jumped out to a 4-1 lead after one-and-one-half innings and still led the Prairie Stars, 5-4 before USF took the lead for good with two tallies in the fourth inning. UIS got seven more runs in the fifth, four of which were unearned thanks to three USF errors.

USF managed just four hits in the game and freshmen Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) and Lauren Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) accounted for the Saints' RBIs in the game.

APRIL 3:
USF 5, ROBERT MORRIS 1
ROBERT MORRIS 7, USF 6

JOLIET, Ill. — University of St. Francis left the tying and winning runs stranded on third and second base in a four-run, seventh-inning rally that came up one run short in game two and denied the Saints a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of Robert Morris College on Thursday at the Inwood Softball Complex.

USF won the opener 5-1 and dropped the nightcap 7-6 after entering the bottom of the seventh inning with a 7-2 deficit.

Sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) keyed the Saints’ win in game one with a pair of extra-base hits including her first collegiate home run. Boezeman doubled off the top of the fence in the first inning and then cleared the fence with a three-run homer that capped off a four-run fifth inning that gave USF a 4-0 lead.

Sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) also had a pair of hits in game one for the Saints.

Junior right-hander Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) improved her record to 5-3 with win, scattering nine hits and allowing only one earned run. Freshman righty Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) fired one-and-two-thirds innings of hitless relief to pick up her team-high third save.

The Saints spotted Robert Morris a run in the second inning and four more in the fouth frame of game two before they were able to get on the board themselves.

Freshman first baseman Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) drove home USF’s first run with a fourth-inning sacrifice fly. The Saints closed to within 5-2 in the fifth when senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) scampered all the way home from second base on an infield out.

Robert Morris extended the lead to 7-2 with two more tallies in the sixth.

The Saints made things interesting in the seventh by piecing together three hits, a pair of walks, a dropped third strike and a sacrifice fly. The game ended with a bases-loaded strikeout as the Saints left the potential tying run on third and the possible game-winning run on second.

USF managed just six hits in game two, with two of them coming off the bat of freshman center fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL).

The split snapped USF’s winning streak at five games and left the Saints with a 14-8 overall record. USF is in second place in the CCAC, with its 5-1 league mark just behind Olivet Nazarene’s 6-0 start.

USF travels to southern Illinois to participate in the McKendree University Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.

APRIL 1:
USF 6, CALUMET (IN) 0
USF 7, CALUMET 4

JOLIET, Ill. — University of St. Francis captured its second straight Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference home doubleheader Tuesday with a sweep of the Crimson Wave of Calumet College of St. Joseph (IN). The Saints blanked Calumet in the opener, 6-0, and then rallied from a 3-0 first-inning deficit to win the nightcap, 7-4.

Junior right-hander Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) fired a six-hit shutout and batterymate freshman Carolyn Rupsis (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) drove in three runs in the opener to spark the Saints.

Spudic allowed more than one baserunner in just one inning and pushed her record to 4-3 with the win. She also lowered her earned run average to just 1.45.

Rupsis gave the Saints a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run single that followed sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman’s (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) run-scoring single. Rupsis doubled home another run in the third that started a second three-run inning for the Saints.

In addition to Rupsis, sophomore left fielder Maggie O’Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) also had two hits in the opener with a double, a single and one RBI.

After spotting the Crimson Wave three runs in the top of the first inning of game two, USF quickly answered with a three-run first of its own. Boezeman, Rupsis and freshman pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) each drove in single runs in the frame.

The Saints took the lead for good with a three-run third, getting RBIs from Boezeman, Rupsis and freshman first baseman Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL).

USF added another run in the fourth when senior right fielder Brittney Smith (Shepard H.S./Alsip, IL) led off the inning with a single and scored two outs later on a base hit off the bat of freshman shortstop Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort,IL).

Malacina pitched the distance for USF, scattering eight hits and allowing four runs -- three earned -- with five strikeouts and just two walks. Malacina pushed her record to a team-best 7-3.

Boezeman finished the second game 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Malacina also had a pair of hits, as did freshman center fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL).

For the day, Boezeman led the Saints with five hits and Rupsis topped the club with five RBI.

USF improved its overall record to 13-7 and moved to 4-0 in CCAC play. The Saints conclude their eight-game homestand with a Thursday CCAC doubleheader against Robert Morris College at 4 p.m. at the Inwood Softball Complex.

MARCH 30:
USF 6, PURDUE NORTH CENTRAL 5 (10 INN.)
USF 4, PURDUE NORTH CENTRAL 2

JOLIET, Ill. — University of St. Francis battled back from a 4-0 deficit to win the opener in 10 innings and then finished the sweep with a 4-2 verdict in the nightcap as the Saints knocked off Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Purdue North Central Sunday afternoon at the Inwood Softball Complex.

Freshman right fielder Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) was the hitting star in the opener as she belted a solo home run in the fourth to put the Saints on the board then tied the game one inning later with a bases-loaded triple. Two batters later she scampered home with the lead run on a wild pitch.

Purdue North Central tied the game again at 5-5 with a solo homer in the top of the sixth.

Neither team was able to push across another run until the Saints won it with two outs in the bottom of the 10th. Freshman first baseman Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) stroked a one-out double to start the winning rally. Pinch runner Caitlin Griffin (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL) moved to third base on sophomore left fielder Maggie O’Shea’s (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) sacrifice and then scored on a throwing error on freshman Lauren Panek’s (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) bunt to the mound.

The Saints came from behind twice in game two, overcoming 1-0 and 2-1 deficits.

O’Shea’s double down the right field line scored Arrington from first base to tie the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning.

After PNC regained a 2-1 lead with an unearned run in the top of the fifth, USF rallied again. Back-to-back run-scoring singles by Dolan and sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) scored freshman pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) who led off the inning with a double and sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) who had singled to reach base.

Malacina scored an insurance run in the sixth when she singled with two outs and raced all the way home when senior third baseman Jamie Redman’s (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) drive to right field was dropped for a two-base error.

Malacina earned the pitching wins in both games to move her record to 6-3. She fired 4.1 innings of scoreless relief in the long opener and allowed no runs on one hit in 2.2 innings in the nightcap.

Dolan was 3-for-8 with a homer, triple and five RBI on the day. Boezeman and Arrington each also had three hits in the doubleheader.

The wins pushed USF’s overall record to 11-7 and snapped a four-game losing streak. The Saints are now off to a quick 2-0 start in CCAC play.

USF continues conference play this week with home doubleheaders scheduled for Tuesday against Calumet College (IN) and Thursday vs. Robert Morris College. Both twin bills start at 4 p.m. at the Inwood Softball Complex.

MARCH 26:
WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE 3, USF 1
WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE 5, USF 3

JOLIET, Ill. — University of St. Francis lost the opener due to three unearned runs and let a 2-1 lead get away in the seventh inning of the nightcap as the Saints dropped a nonconference doubleheader to NCAA Division II University of Wisconsin Parkside Wednesday afternoon.

The Saints lost the first game 3-1, with all three of the Ranger runs scoring thanks to errors committed by USF. Starting pitcher Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) pitched well, scattering six hits over six innings and not allowing more than one hit in any inning. She walked none and was charged with a pair of unearned runs.

The Saints trailed just 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth and let a golden opportunity get away. They loaded the bases with just one out when sophomore right fielder Caitlin Griffin (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL) reached on an error and Spudic and senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) followed with singles.

UWP, though, managed to squeeze out of the jam with a strikeout and a bouncer back to the mound to end the threat.

The Saints did manage to cut the lead in half to 2-1 in the sixth inning when freshman first baseman Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) led off with a double and pinch-runner Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) scored from third one out later on a wild pitch.

USF led game two from the first inning until the disastrous seventh.

Freshman pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) drove in all three Saints’ runs with an RBI single in the first, a run-scoring double in the third and a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.

USF led 2-1 entering the seventh before the Parkside bats woke up. Malacina had limited the Rangers to just five hits through six innings but then surrendered hits to the first two batters of the seventh and to four of the first six in the inning. The Rangers plated four runs to take a 5-2 lead.

The Saints threatened in the seventh, scoring once and leaving the bases loaded as the final two hitters were struck out to end the game.

Redman and sophomore outfielder Maggie O’Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) each had three hits for the day.

The losses dropped the Saints to 9-7 on the season and extended USF’s losing streak to four games. All four setbacks, though, have come at the hands of strong NCAA Division II teams as USF lost a twin bill at Lewis last Wednesday afternoon.

The Saints open Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Sunday with a 1 p.m. home doubleheader against Purdue North Central.

MARCH 19:
LEWIS 5, USF 0
LEWIS 7, USF 4

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. --- University of St. Francis’ return back to Illinois was not a welcoming one as Lewis University, powered by five home runs, dealt the Lady Saints their first doubleheader loss of the season, issuing 5-0 and 7-4 setbacks on Wednesday.

The pair of losses snapped a three-game winning streak for USF (9-5) and came on the heels of a very successful 9-3 Florida trip.

Lewis’ Courtney Lyons (9-3) stymied the Saint batters in the opener, limiting them to just three hits and offset five walks with 11 strikeouts. 

USF’s only real shot at breaking up Lyons’ shutout bid came in the fifth inning when the Lady Saints loaded the bases with only one out.  Lyons, however, got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts.

Lisa Gartland started the home run frenzy for the Flyers with her first of two round-trippers on the day in the third inning of the opener before Stephanie Harmon belted out a two-run home run off Saint starter Jacie Spudic (Thornton Fractional South H.S./Lansing, IL) (3-2) in the fourth inning for a 3-0 lead.  Lewis added one more run in the fourth and another in the fifth for the final 5-0 count.    
 
USF rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the nightcap to tie the game with two runs in the third inning before taking a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

Sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman’s (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) two-run double got the Lady Saints on the board for the first time on the day in the third before freshman first baseman Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) provided USF with its first lead of the day on a single to right field.

A two-out, two-run rally in the fifth enabled Lewis (14-8) to regain the lead, 4-3, before the Flyers went deep two more times in the sixth to seal their 13th win in the last 15 games.   

St. Francis got an unearned run in the seventh to account for the final scoring.

St. Francis starting pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) (4-2) was the lone Saint to register two hits on the day, going 2-for-3 with a double and one run scored in the nightcap.

USF takes another seven days off before returning to action on March 26, hosting University of Wisconsin Parkside in its home opener at 3 p.m.

MARCH 8:
USF 5, MUSKINGUM (OH) 4
USF 11, U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY (NY) 1

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The University of St. Francis softball team completed a successful spring break trip to central Florida with a pair of victories on Saturday to push the Saints’ record to 9-3.

USF snapped a 4-4 tie with a tally in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Muskingum College (OH), 5-4, in the morning game and finished off the trip with a convincing 11-1 rout of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (NY) in the afternoon.

St. Francis jumped out to a 4-0 lead after just two innings against Muskingum. Freshman shortstop Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) drove home the first run with a first-inning double and senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL), sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) and freshman right fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) each recorded RBI in the second frame.

Muskingum rallied to tie the game with four runs in the top of the third inning, with only one being earned due to a USF throwing error that opened the inning.

The score did not change until the bottom of the sixth when Shell drew a two-out walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. Muskingum then issued an intentional walk to Redman and Behrens lined a single to right field to load the bases. Sophomore second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) then coaxed a walk to force home the eventual winning run.

Freshman Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) (4-1) pitched the final three innings and scattered four hits to earn the victory. Redman and Behrens each authored two hits in USF’s seven-hit attack.

The Saints enjoyed their only blowout victory of the 12-game trip in the nightcap, but did not open the game up until registering a three-run fifth inning.

Sophomore left fielder Maggie O’Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) and freshmen Brittany Arrington (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) and Lauren Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) each led the way with two hits in the Saints’ 12-hit effort. Panek also was the only Saint with more than one RBI as she finished the game with two.

Nine different USF players registered hits in the game. Sophomore catcher Stacy Heap (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) ended her hitting slump with her first hit of the trip and senior outfielder Brittney Smith (Shepard H.S./Alsip, IL) recorded her first RBI of the season on a perfectly placed suicide squeeze bunt.

Junior pitcher Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) earned the win in relief to push her record to 3-1. She allowed just two hits in four innings with a pair of strikeouts and two walks.

MARCH 7:
GENEVA (PA) 3, USF 0
USF 1, INDIANA WESLEYAN 0

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Freshman right-hander Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) pitched the final five innings in relief of senior Lisa Tharp (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) as the two combined for a 1-0 shutout of Indiana Wesleyan University and a split of the Saints’ two games for the day. USF dropped its first game Friday by a 3-0 score to Geneva College (PA). The shutout victory over IWU was USF’s fourth in its seven wins this week.

Malacina allowed just a pair of singles and struck out two in earning her third victory of the young season against just one loss. Tharp pitched two scoreless innings before leaving the game due to illness.

Senior center fielder Laura Brkljacic (St. Francis de Sales H.S./Chicago, IL) drove in the game’s only run with a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth that plated freshman shortstop Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL), who reached base on a one-out single and then stole second.

The Saints managed just four hits in the win, but only allowed four hits themselves.

St. Francis was blanked for the first time on the Florida trip in Friday’s first game as Geneva limited USF to just three singles.

Starting pitcher Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) (2-1) suffered her first loss after being tagged for three runs on four hits in two-and-one-third innings. Junior Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) finished the game on the mound and blanked Geneva the rest of the way on just two hits with three strikeouts.

USF had just three hits against Geneva, with two off the bat of senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL).

The Saints improved to 7-3 with the split and conclude their trip with a pair of games Saturday vs. Muskingum College (OH) at 8 a.m. (CST) and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (NY) at 10 a.m. (CST).

MARCH 6:
USF 8, BELOIT (WI) 7 --- 9 Innings
KING (TN) 3, USF 1

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – University of St. Francis rallied to tie the first game in both the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings and then overcame a one-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to post an 8-7 win over Beloit College (WI) on its way to a pair of softball victories on Thursday at the Rebel Spring Games. USF won in a much less dramatic fashion in the second game, defeating King College (TN), 3-1.

St. Francis (6-2) had its first poor defensive game of the Florida trip in the opener, committing three errors that led to four unearned runs for Beloit. The Saints, though, took advantage of five Beloit errors and pushed across the tying run with a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 4-4 and force extra innings.

With the international rule in place where each extra inning is started with a runner at second base, Beloit managed to score twice in the eighth and take a 6-4 edge.

St. Francis hit into a double play to start its eighth and needed to start another two-out rally to stay alive. Freshman Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) ignited the rally with a walk, which was followed by singles off the bats of freshman second baseman Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) and senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) that loaded the bases.

The Saints then caught a break when sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) hit a ground ball that skipped through the second baseman’s legs for an error that allowed two runs to score and tie the game.

Beloit again took advantage of the runner placed on second base to start the ninth inning and scored once for a 7-6 lead. USF started the bottom half with its runner on second and, with one out, got some more help on another infield error by Beloit that put the potential winning run on first and the tying run on second.

Sophomore first baseman Lynley Louzensky (Tinley Park H.S./Oak Forest, IL) drove a single to left field to tie the game and put the lead run at second base. Dolan then got her second big hit in as many innings with a single to center that scored sophomore pinch-runner Caitlin Griffin (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL), who slid around the catcher’s tag at home plate.

Sophomore Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) pitched the final four innings in relief of junior Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) to earn her second win. Boezeman (2-0) also led the Saints with three hits in the game.

Malacina (2-1) fired her second complete-game victory of the spring in the nightcap, scattering seven hits and allowing just one unearned run. She walked one and struck out six.

The Saints got the runs they needed in the third inning when freshman shortstop Lauren Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) stroked a two-out, two-RBI single. USF added one more unearned run in the fifth when Boezeman singled, stole second and scampered home on an errant throw on Panek’s infield grounder.

The Saints collected seven hits in the second game, with Redman leading the way with a triple and a double.

USF plays two more times on Friday, facing Geneva College (PA) at 10 a.m. (CST) and Indiana Wesleyan University at 2 p.m. (CST).

MARCH 4:
URBANA (OH) 3, USF 2
WALSH (OH) 7, USF 1

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The perfect start to the 2008 softball season came to an end Tuesday as University of St. Francis lost games to both Urbana University (OH) and Walsh University (OH) at the Rebel Spring Games. Urbana held off USF, 3-2, and Walsh handled the Saints, 7-1.

USF jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the opener vs. Urbana when sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) singled home senior third baseman Jamie Redman (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL), who started the game with a walk and a stolen base and took third on a throwing error.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Urbana finally got to USF starting pitcher Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) (2-1). Urbana had runners on first and second with two outs when a throwing error on a rundown during a pickoff attempt allowed the tying run to scamper home from second base. Urbana then laced back-to-back hits – a double and a single – that plated two more runs and put the Saints behind 3-1.

USF squandered a scoring opportunity in the sixth when the Saints put their first two batters on base but could not advance them.

The Saints threatened again in the seventh and climbed within 3-2 on a Redman sacrifice fly that scored sophomore left fielder Maggie O’Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN), who started the inning by getting hit by a pitch. USF, though, left the tying run at second base and the game ended with Urbana claiming the 3-2 win.

The Saints collected just three hits in the opener, with Behrens getting two of them.

Walsh used a pair of home runs off the bat of Krystal Sherry to power its way past the Saints in the second game of the day.

The game was scoreless until the third when Sherry hit her first blast, a two-run shot, off Saint starter Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) (1-1).

The Saints cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth when freshman left fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) led off the frame with a triple and scored on freshman shortstop Caitlin Dolan’s (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) bunt single.

Walsh put the game away with a five-run fifth that included a three-run homer by Sherry.

The Saints collected six hits in game two, with Shell the lone USF player with two hits.

USF (4-2) is off on Wednesday and resumes play Thursday with games against Beloit College (WI) and King College (TN).

MARCH 3:
USF 4, INDIANA WESLEYAN 3
USF 1, URBANA (OH) 0

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Good things continued to happen for University of St. Francis as the softball Saints won their second and third one-run decisions and pushed their season-opening record to 4-0 with a pair of Monday morning victories at the Rebel Spring Games.

USF allowed three runs in the opener – after posting a pair of shutouts on Sunday – but rallied to snap a 3-3 tie with a perfectly executed squeeze bunt in the fourth inning and defeated Indiana Wesleyan University, 4-3, in Monday’s first game. The Saints then fired their third shutout in two days with a 1-0 blanking of Urbana University (OH) in their second outing of the day.

Indiana Wesleyan’s first run came in the top of the first inning and was unearned, snapping USF’s streak of 14 straight shutout innings to open the season.

The Saints rallied with three tallies of their own in the second, with a two-out run-scoring double off the bat of freshman first baseman Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) followed by an RBI triple from sophomore right fielder Caitlin Griffin (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL). The third run crossed the plate on a dropped third strike to sophomore center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL).

After IWU tied the score with a pair of earned runs in the top of the third, USF’s pitchers slammed the door.

The Saints scored the eventual game-winning run in the fourth on Griffin’s perfectly placed suicide squeeze bunt that scored senior left fielder Laura Brkljacic (St. Francis de Sales H.S./Chicago, IL), who started the inning with a bunt single.

Junior pitcher Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) relieved starter Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) in the third and allowed no runs and just one infield single in five innings to earn her first win of the season. Spudic (1-0) walked just one batter and notched two strikeouts.

Three Saints’ pitchers combined on a one-hitter in the nightcap as USF blanked Urbana.

Senior Lisa Tharp (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) worked the first three hitless innings and struck out three, while issuing a pair of walks.

Boezeman pitched the fourth and fifth frames. She allowed the one infield hit but that runner was erased trying to advance so she faced the minimum six batters in her two innings.

Malacina (1-0) came on in the sixth and fired two perfect innings with a pair of strikeouts. She now has a win and two saves in three pitching appearances in the first two days of her collegiate career.

Malacina also had the lone RBI of the game, when her fielder’s choice grounder in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded plated freshman shortstop Lauren Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL), who had reached base on a single.

USF recorded just five hits in the second game, with freshman catcher C.J. Rupsis (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) the only Saint to collect a pair of hits, which included her first career triple.

USF plays two more games on Tuesday, facing Urbana again at 8 a.m (CST) and then meeting Walsh University (OH) at noon (CST).

MARCH 2:
USF 3, ROCHESTER TECH (NY) 0
USF 1, BREWTON-PARKER (GA) 0

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – It was a memorable collegiate debut for several University of St. Francis freshmen as the Saints’ softball team opened its 2008 season with a pair of shutout victories at the Rebel Games at the Osceola County Sports Complex.

Rookie right-handed pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) earned a save in game one and then fired a two-hit shutout in the nightcap as the Saints defeated Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) 3-0 and Brewton-Parker College (GA) 1-0 on Sunday.

Malacina worked a scoreless seventh inning in the opener in relief of junior starter Jacie Spudic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL). Spudic had blanked RIT on five hits through the first six frames.

The Saints manage