BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University baseball team closed out its three-game series against the University of St. Francis Fighting Saints on Sunday at Watson Field. The Fighting Saints won game one, 9-3, and the Tigers took game two, 6-1.

Game One: St. Francis 9, Olivet Nazarene 3

The Tigers sent out Nolan Belschner to start the game and he worked five innings and struck out six batters.  Relieving Belschner was Peyton Bovie and he went the final two innings.  

After a quiet first inning, ONU jumped ahead in the second inning on a solo home run by Jacob Bulthuis.  The Fighting Saints then took the lead in the third inning on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly, making the score, 2-1.  The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Nolan Louis.  St. Francis then retook the lead and struck for two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth as they led 9-2.

The Tigers tried to cut into their deficit in the bottom of the sixth.  Louis led off the inning with a triple and Tyler Wheeler batted in Louis on an RBI groundout making the score, 9-3.  That run proved to be not enough as the Fighting Saints defeated the Tigers, 9-3 in the first game of the day.

Game Two: Olivet Nazarene 6, St. Francis 1

Head Coach Jeff Mullikin sent out freshman right-hander Matthew Cousino for his first career start in game two.  Cousino turned in a solid performance as he went seven innings and surrendered only one run on four hits and struck out two.  Jonathan Simpson pitched the final two innings and picked up his second save of the season. 

The two teams were stuck in a scoreless tie until the third inning when the Tigers opened the scoring.  With one out, both Alex Ortiz and Robert Jackman singled putting runners on first and third.  Donovan Yelle then drove in Ortiz with a sacrifice fly.  Then, Ryan Russmann drove in Jackman with an RBI single.   The Tigers led 2-0 after three innings of play.  In the fourth inning, with two outs, Gunnar Pullins added to the ONU lead as he platted Kai Hudson on a run-scoring single, making the score, 3-0.  In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers added to their lead.  After Jackman singled and stole second, Yelle tallied his second RBI of the game as he singled home Jackman.  The Tigers were ahead 4-0.

After the Fighting Saints hit a home run in the top of the eighth, the Tigers extended their lead in the bottom of the inning.  After Wheeler, Hudson, and Bulthuis reached base to load the bases, Pullins hit into a double play but pinch runner Garret Mooney scored on the play.  Later, Ortiz reached on an error and Hudson scored on the play.  The Tigers led 6-1. 

Olivet Nazarene used clutch hitting and five stolen bases to earn a 6-1 victory in the third and final game of the series. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers have a quick turnaround as they host the Judson University Eagles for a doubleheader on Monday, March 21^st.  The doubleheader is set to start at noon from Watson Field. 

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu