FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Spring Arbor University baseball team earned a series win over the University of Saint Francis after picking up an 8-5 win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.

The victory in game one extended SAU's winning streak to a season-high five games. However, the Cougars saw their streak come to an end in the second half of the twin bill, dropping a 7-1 decision.

After taking two out of three games from Saint Francis, Spring Arbor improved its record to 19-22 overall and currently sits in fifth place in the Crossroads League standings with a 10-9 mark – four games behind league-leading Huntington University (20-10, 14-5 CL).

THE BASICS

SCORES: Spring Arbor 8, Saint Francis 5

Spring Arbor 1, Saint Francis 7

LOCATION: Fort Wayne, Ind.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 19-22 (10-9 CL), Saint Francis 13-28 (7-12 CL)

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• Chris Triplett put Spring Arbor on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning with an RBI triple. He would score later in the inning on a wild pitch to give SAU an early 2-0 lead.
• Triplett crossed the plate again in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Vincent Herschberger. The Cougars made it a 4-1 game one batter later when Peyton Harding delivered an RBI double.
• Saint Francis fought its way back into the game, trimming the deficit to two, 5-3, but Harding came through in the clutch again with his sixth inning bases clearing double to the gap in left-center field to bring in three runs.
• A two-run home run by Saint Francis in the home half of the sixth got the home team within three, but Gavin Harris slammed the door shut in the seventh to secure the win.
• Harding was 3-for-4 with four RBI's while Triplett was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Evan Lorey and Conner Lengerich also scored two runs each.
• Duncan Patterson earned his seventh victory of the season, which is tied for the most in the Crossroads League. Patterson went six innings giving up five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Spring Arbor offense was never able to get going in game two. Saint Francis starting pitcher Matt Baker held SAU to just one run on four hits over 6.1 innings.
• Saint Francis gave Baker all the support he would need with five runs through the first three innings.
• Lengerich collected two of the Cougars' five hits while Lorey, Harding and Jake Ellis each had one.
• Jon Williams suffered the loss on the mound, surrendering five runs on four hits in three innings of work. Zach Kraabel pitched four innings of relief, giving up two runs on six hits while Noah Brook tossed one scoreless inning.

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor begins a seven-game homestand on Tuesday, Apr. 16 when it welcomes Goshen College (13-23, 7-11 CL) to Hank Burbridge Field. The first game of the scheduled doubleheader is set to start at 1 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
DOWNLOAD OUR APPS: iOS (iPhone/iPad) | Android