Franciscan 13, Westminster 6 -7 Innings 
 
Franciscan Lineup
Patrick Wallace 2B, Austin Horan CF, Chris Furka SS, Joshua Costello 1B, Kyle Ferrance RF, Declan Peterson 3B, Brendan Burke C, Joshua Speaker DH, Daniel Halsey LF & Pitching - Noah Smith

Westminster Lineup
Porter LF, Webb SS, Cinicola 1B, Graxier DH, Cooper CF, Schrader RF, Barnot 3B, Jolin C, Costello 2B & Pitching Minch
 
How It Happened
The Franciscan Baseball team got off to a great start to their 2021 season, winning their Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) match up with Westminster by a score of 13-6 in seven innings. 

In the top of the first inning, Patrick Wallace led off the game with a single to center field. Austin Horan followed a single to left field; however, Wallace got thrown out at third. Chris Furka then put the Barons on the board, smacking a single to right field, scoring Horan from second. After Joshua Costello and Kyle Ferrance reached base, Brendan Burke doubled to left field scoring two runs and putting Franciscan ahead 3-0. Joshua Speaker followed with a double of his own driving in two runs to put Franciscan ahead by five runs. 

The Barons offense would strike again in the top of the third inning. Ferrance would lace a single into left field and then Declan Peterson crushed a double into right field, scoring Ferrance. While the Barons offense was rolling, Nate Smith controlled the game from mound pitching the first five innings allowing four runs on eight hits. 

With the Barons leading 6-1 entering the fifth inning, Franciscan would tack a few more runs on the board. Chris Furka would get the rally started with a single. After Costello worked a walk, Ferrance would again strike, this time with a double into left center scoring two more runs. Peterson would then single right field, allowing Ferrance to score. 

The Titans would answer back scoring three runs in the bottom fifth inning and two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to close within three runs. Franciscan's offense would answer back in the top of the seventh inning. With runners on first and second, Ferrance doubled to right field, plating a pair of runs. Peterson grounded out to first base allowing Ferrance to score. Later in the inning, Wallace would single to drive in a run putting Franciscan ahead 13-6. Wallace would go to the mound pitching the final 1.1 innings allowing just one hit and securing the win for the Barons.

At the Plate
-The Barons were led by Kyle Ferrance who went 3-3 with a pair of doubles, drove in four RBI's, and scored four runs
- Declan Peterson was 2-4 with a double, driving in three RBI's in the process
- Short Stop Chris Furka went 3-4 scoring three runs and driving in an RBI
- Josh Speaker smashed double in the first inning, plating two runs in the process
- Brendan Burke also had plated two runs with a double in the first inning
- Austin Horan went 2-2 scoring once
  
On The Mound
- Nate Smith got the first win of his career, pitching five innings allowing four runs on eight hit while striking out three Titans
- Chris Furka pitched 0.2 innings allowing two runs on hits
- Patrick Wallace closed out the win, pitching the final 1.1, allowing one hit and recording one strikeout 

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Westminster 5, Franciscan 2 - 9 Innings
 
Franciscan Lineup
Patrick Wallace 2B, Michael Maynard DH, Chris Furka SS, Joshua Costello 1B, Kyle Ferrance RF, Declan Peterson 3B, Brendan Burke C, Daniel Halsey LF, James Becker CF & pitcher  - Jacob Watson 
 
Westminster Lineup
Porter LF, Costello 2B, Cinicola DH, Grazier 1B, Webb 3B, Barnot RF, Murgenovi SS, Morelli C, Davis CF & pitcher - Keller

How It Happened
After taking game one, the Barons reset for a battle in game two of the double header. 

Westminster would strike first, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double. Franciscan would look to answer back in the fourth inning. Joshua Costello would led the inning off by drawing a walk. Declan Peterson followed by smacking a ball into right field and legging out a triple, scoring Costello in the process. Brendan Burke hit a hard ground ball to the short stop allowing Peterson to score, cutting the deficit to one. 

The Barons would get runners on base in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but not manufacture a run. Westminster would tack on a run in the to recapture a two run lead. The Barons would threaten in the top of the eight inning. After Chris Furka singled to left field, Costello and Ferrance worked walks loading the bases. The Barons however could not capitalize and Westminster added an insurance run in the bottom of the eight inning to seal the victory. 

At the Plate
- Franciscan was led by Declan Peterson who went drove in a run in the fourth inning with an RBI triple to right field
- Brendan Burke went 2-4 with a double and drove in the Barons other run in the fourth inning 
- Patrick Wallace had Franciscans other extra base hit with a double in the fifth inning
  
On The Mound
- Jacob Watson got the start for the Barons pitching six innings, allowing four runs on nine hits
- Joshua Speaker closed the game out, pitching two innings allowing one run on two hits while striking out two

Up Next
Franciscan will return home for another doubleheader with Westminster. The first game at 1pm will count against each team's PAC conference record, and the second game will count as a non-conference game. 

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