USF's Bolyn Collects 350th Win

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) softball team picked up two wins against Cleary University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn in the Cougars' first day at The Space Coast Spring Games on Wednesday, March 5. 

USF opened their first day of competition in the Sunshine State with a 4-1 win over Cleary, earning head coach Ryan Bolyn his 350th win at the helm of the program. The Cougars then used a strong fifth inning to down Michigan-Dearborn by a final score of 12-1.

SAINT FRANCIS 4, CLEARY 1

• The USF Cougars plated a run in the first inning to take the 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI double from junior Macie Dowd.
• Paiton Iliff hit an in-the-park home run to right field, scoring two runs to bring the score to 3-0 in favor of the Cougars. 
• After CU put a run on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, Sam Baker singled to left field to score Madyson Minnich and extended Saint Francis' lead back to three runs in the sixth inning. 
• Saint Francis held Cleary scoreless in the seventh inning as the Cougars earned a 4-1 win in their first matchup of The Space Coast Spring Games.
• USF had nine hits during Wednesday afternoon's first game. Baker went 3-3 at the plate with two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases.
• Mady Tompkins earned the win in the circle after throwing 5.0 innings, striking out three of the 20 batters she faced and holding Cleary to four hits. 

SAINT FRANCIS 12, MICHIGAN-DEARBORN 1 (5 INNINGS)

• Michigan-Dearborn got on the scoreboard first with an RBI double in the first inning. 
• The Cougars answered, scoring two runs on an RBI single and a wild pitch to make the score 2-1 in the top of the fourth inning. 
• A big offensive inning from Saint Francis brought in 10 runs to make the score 12-1, cutting the game short in the fifth inning. Singles from Haylee Schott and Kortney Surber, doubles from Abby Robakowski and Dowd and a triple from Iliff highlighted the inning for the Cougars.
• Saint Francis scattered nine hits against the Wolverines. Baker and Dowd both went 2-4 at the plate with a double apiece. Iliff and Robakowski both drove in three runs, while Iliff, Minnich, Surber, and Brooklyn McCord each had a stolen base.
• Ellie Sauder threw all five innings as the starting pitcher for Saint Francis, holding the Wolverines to just five hits and one run. 

Up next, USF softball (3-3) will face the University of Fort Lauderdale and Hannibal-LaGrange University as the Cougars continue to compete at The Space Coast Spring Games on Thursday, March 6. 

Cougar fans can stay updated on all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com.