STEUBENVILLE, Ohio- The Franciscan University softball team ended their season with a home Senior Day doubleheader against Hilbert College, losing to the Hawks 11-0 and 11-3. The Lady Barons' did not find victory on the scoreboard but had a successful season building their team.

The first game started with quick at-bats from both teams but the game went downhill for FUS in the third inning, when the Hawks scored three runs as the Lady Barons weren't able to make plays fast enough to translate into outs. Freshman right fielder Elizabeth Knab hit a double into left field in the bottom of the third, but was left stranded on base. FUS ended the inning with no runs.

"We left a lot of runners stranded again and we just can't do that," Parker said. "We gave up a lot of runs that should have been outs. A little more effort and they would have been outs."

Franciscan struggled through the next two innings. Slow defensive play allowed the Hawks to score three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth. The Lady Barons were unable to get on base at all, due to strikeouts and pop flies.

"Going into the second game, I think they played a lot more aggressive which was good," Parker said.

While game two started off slowly for FUS, the middle innings featured some strong farewell performances for two of the Franciscan seniors.

After freshman third baseman Hailey Wesselman started off the fourth inning with a double, senior captain and center fielder Amanda Ruwart followed with a single. Then senior first baseman Catherine Durand hit a homerun, bringing in three runs for FUS in her last game as a Lady Baron.

"I was really happy to see Kathy hit that homerun on Senior Day," Parker said. "A three run homer, what a great way to close off her career."

After Durand's homerun, things picked up for Franciscan. Freshman pitcher Molly Clarahan struck out a batter and Ruwart caught a fly ball and threw out a runner at home for a double play to finish the fifth inning. The momentum slowed again and FUS could not catch up to the Hawks who ended their last at-bat with three more runs, defeating the Lady Barons.

Franciscan took time from their last game to honor their graduating seniors, captain Amanda Ruwart, Catherine Durand, and mid-season addition Monica Recsnik.

"Monica came in late in the season after we had a number of injuries," Parker said. "She jumped right in; you would have never known she was new to our program. It was like she had been with us since day one. She has adjusted really well."

Durand and Ruwart are both four year veterans to the Franciscan softball team and have been models of consistency and dedication for the building program.

"I am so proud of Cathy's dedication this year," Parker said. "She gave us 110 percent on and off the field . She is a great ball player with great hustle. She has been an asset at first and she has been great in the batter's box with some great hits."

Ruwart has been the captain of the Lady Barons for the past three seasons, and will be passing on the leadership role to junior left fielder Rosemary Cassidy for next year.

"Amanda made leaps and bounds in her leadership growth," Parker said. "She has been great for us; great in the field and great in the batter's box. She is a versatile player, really powerful and really aggressive."

Ruwart said she has enjoyed her time as a Lady Baron and looks forward to the future growth of Franciscan softball.

"I am just proud of all the girls I got to play with and I am happy to end this with them," Ruwart said. "We are starting to get there and I feel like as the years progress we will keep playing better"

Parker said she will miss the seniors' skill and leadership, but is looking forward to a fuller roster for the next season.

"It will convert to wins next year," Parker said. "I do think overall, as a team, it was a great season as far as team building. The girls really came together. They are like a family. That was one of our biggest successes."