ELGIN, Ill. - The University of St. Francis came sneaking away with two wins and took over first place in the CCAC by sweeping Judson University at Hoffer Field. Both games were decided by one run as St. Francis came back from six runs down in game one for the 8-7 win and then scored the winning run in the top of the seventh in game two, 6-5. Judson is now 29-15 on the year and 16-6 in the CCAC.

Nate Rohl and Johnny Amann led Judson offensively with four hits each. Rohl had three RBI and his third home run of the year. Nick Krisman took the loss in game one and Ed Draper received the loss in game two.

Game 1

St. Francis 8, Judson 7

Judson opened up the game with six runs in the first inning but St. Francis chipped away at the lead and tied the game in the top of the fourth. Judson then retook the lead, 7-6, in the bottom of the inning before giving up two runs in the top of fifth.

Krisman went 6.2 innings and had five strikeouts but gave up eight earned runs on eight hits while striking out five. Joe Huencke worked the final out of the inning facing only one batter. Amann went 3-of-4 in the game with one run scored. Ben Vincent also had three hits and one RBI. Rohl had two hits, one a home run, with two RBI.

Andy Parsill tripled in Judson's first run of the game just three batters in as Amann scored. Matt McHenry hit into a fielder's choice two batters later as Nick Norris became the second run of the game. Rohl then smacked his third home run of the year to take the 4-0 advantage. Vincent followed Rohl two batters later with a triple to bring in Cantwell who singled just before. Levi Pippenger then finished off the scoring with a single to left center as Vincent crossed home plate for the sixth run.

After St. Francis put up four runs in the third and two in the fourth to tie the game, Judson broke the tie in the bottom of the fourth for the one-run lead. Zach Williams was the go-ahead run when he came in on a fielding error in the outfield. Judson had a chance to add more runs with two runners on and one out but could not bring in another run. St. Francis then had key hits in the top of the fifth to take the 8-7 lead.

Game 2

St. Francis 6, Judson 5

St. Francis pulled out the win in the top of the seventh inning as they batted in the winning run on a ground out and then held onto the win when Judson threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Judson took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning and then St. Francis tied it up in the top of the third. St. Francis then erupted for four runs in the top of the fourth for a 5-1 lead. Judson then carved away at the lead with two runs in the fifth and the sixth to tie the game at five before the Saints won the game in the seventh inning.

Ed Draper pitched the final inning for the loss as he gave up one earned run on one hit with one strikeout. Mitch Smith started the game and went six innings recording three strikeouts and gave up five earned runs on 10 hits. Andy Parsill and Nate Rohl each had two hits and Amann recorded two RBI.

Rohl drove in the McHenry for Judson's 1-0 lead in the second inning only to see St. Francis tie it at one in the top of the third. Then, in the top of the fourth, Judson gave up four runs as St. Francis moved ahead, 5-1.

In the fifth inning, Judson made a dent in the four-run lead by scoring two runs. Brian Brauer tripled to score Pippenger and then scored three batters later on a St. Francis error. In the sixth inning, Amann doubled down the left field line bringing in Giovanni Cantwell and Pippenger to tie the game.

In the top of the seventh, the leadoff batter for St. Francis walked and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. The runner then went to third on a fielder's choice and came home on a groundout for the win. Judson had two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but could not deliver the tying or winning runs.

Judson will try to get back to first place in the CCAC as they travel to Joliet, Ill., on Friday, April 23^rd, to face St. Francis in a single nine-inning game.