STEUBENVILLE – Sophomore Andi Queen picked up the win in the second game of a doubleheader against Waynesburg to become the all-time wins leader for Franciscan. The Lady Barons swept the twin bill with scores of 8-2, 6-3, Wednesday afternoon.
 
Queen cruised through the first four innings as her offense gave her a five-run cushion, as she allowed just three hits. The sophomore had runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the fourth and got three-straight outs in the infield to escape the frame unscathed.
 
Franciscan added a run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-0 lead thanks to an RBI double from freshman Anna Swierczewski to bring home classmate Rachel Cooper.
 
The Yellow Jackets were able to get on the board in the top of the fifth with four-straight two out singles to plate three runs and cut the lead in half, 6-3. Senior Anna Ames made an incredible play at third on a low hard-hit line drive to end the inning with the bases load and end the scoring threat.
 
Senior Amanda Pulice came out in relief in the top of the sixth and after giving up a leadoff single, retired the next four batters she saw. Pulice gave up a one-out double in the top of the seventh but got a pair of ground outs to end the game and pick up her first career save.
 
The win for Queen pushed her career total to 12, making her the all-time wins leader at Franciscan as a sophomore.
 
"Amanda did a great job of closing the second game to pick up her 1st career save," remarked head coach Jim Walker. "She is a change of speed pitcher that really gives hitters fits."
 
Sophomore Allyson Weiss scored the game's first run as she came home on a wild pitch after drawing a walk to lead off the game and coming around the base paths on wild pitches. Cooper walked and got to third with a stolen base and a ground out and was brought home on a Swierczewski single.
 
Swierczewski gave Franciscan a 3-0 lead with another RBI single in the bottom of the third before freshman Mary Roach doubled through the right side with the bases loaded to score Ames and Swierczewski. The Lady Barons led 5-0 after four innings.
 
The first game was highlighted by a dominant pitching performance by freshman Sarah Keating and an impressive offensive output from the Lady Barons.
 
After giving up one run in the top of the first, Keating allowed just two base runners through the next five innings. Waynesburg plated its final run of the game with a home run to lead off the top of the seventh but Keating ended the game with a strike out to seal the 8-2 win. Keating struck out a season-best 10 batters over the seven innings while allowing just two runs, one earned, on three hits. Keating did not allow a walk.
 
"We got really good pitching today," remarked Coach Walker. "Sarah did a great job of mixing speeds in game 1 to keep them off balance."
 
After a scoreless first for the Lady Barons, Franciscan took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Roach reached first on a error by the Waynesburg pitcher and Swierczewski was able to come home and tie the game. Freshman Chole Cross followed with an RBI single to bring home freshman Faith Pokryfke and give Franciscan a 2-0 lead. Weiss grounded out to bring home Ames and build the 3-1 lead for Franciscan after two innings.
 
Ames brought home junior Dennise Carrazco in the third to push the Lady Baron lead to 4-1 before Franciscan broke open the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Swierczewski led off the frame with a double to left and Pokryfke traded places with her with a double of her own. Ames followed with a double through the right side to score Pokryfke and give Franciscan a 6-1 lead. Cross hit the fourth double of the inning for the Lady Barons to bring home ames and Weiss brought Cross home on a single to give Franciscan an 8-1 lead.
 
"Swierczewski crushed the ball today," said Coach Walker. "That is exactly the type of offensive player we knew we were getting when we recruited her.
 
This was a perfect example of how deep of a team we are. We were missing a couple starters but everyone stepped up and everyone that batted contributed a hit."
 
The Lady Barons return to action on Friday as they will host Chatham in a non-conference doubleheader in Steubenville. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.