Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Cougar GameDay program
Box score
Photos

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- The University of Saint Francis baseball team knocked off defending Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference champion Madonna University 7-4 at Cougar Field Wednesday. Not originally on the schedule, the Cougars made the most of their opportunity against one of the region's best, getting solid pitching and errorless defense in the nine-inning triumph.

Madonna used a one-out walk to take a 1-0 lead in its half of the opening frame with Tony Luttman driving in Kyle Fedorka from second. The Cougars answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. Mickey Cassidy led of the inning with a walk, followed by the first of Andy Papagiannis' four hits on the afternoon. A double steal moved both runners up 90 feet and Josh Widman tied the game with a single to left, scoring Cassidy. One out later, Jason Beer singled in Papagiannis.

After a scoreless second, Madonna reclaimed the lead in the third inning, only to see USF come right back in the home half to tie the score at 3-3. Mike Ybarra drove in Jarrod Wehri from second for the Cougars' equalizer.

Back to back hits from Cassidy and Papagiannis generated the go-ahead run in USF's fourth inning. Cassidy doubled and scored on his teammate's single to center putting the home team up 4-3 after four.

MU scratched its final run across in the seventh, tying the game for the final time before errors and hit batters fueled USF's go-ahead rally in the seventh and eighth innings.

Papagiannis went 4-for-5 on the day with two runs and two RBI. Widman was 1-for-3 while driving in two and Cassidy was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Bart Schnur picked up the first win of his college career, lasting seven innings with eights hits and six walks.

The Cougars face another of the WHAC's top teams in crosstown rival Indiana Tech tomorrow, Thursday, April 6, also at Cougar Field. First pitch of the single nine-inning contest is scheduled for 3 p.m.

-- GO USF --