STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (Apr. 11)- The Saint Vincent softball team swept a Presidents Athletic Conference doubleheader at Franciscan on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bearcats erupted, scoring 36 runs in the doubleheader. SVC used a 14-run third inning to win game one by a score of 21-2 before earning a 15-4 victory in game two. Both games ended early with the first game finishing in five innings and the second game in six.
 
In the wins, Mackenzie Favero recorded her 100^th career hit.
 
Game 1- Saint Vincent 21, Franciscan 2 (5 Innings)
he Saint Vincent College softball team erupted for 21 runs over the final three innings to cruise past Franciscan University, 21-2, in five innings in game one of Saturday's Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader.
 
With the win, the Bearcats improved to 12-13 overall and 6-7 in PAC play, while the Barons fell to 3-18 overall and 1-10 in conference action.
 
Franciscan grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on solo home runs by Elizabeth Forster and Lorelei Smaciarz, but Saint Vincent answered with a massive 14-run third inning to seize control for good.
 
Emily Dudenhoeffer started the scoring with an RBI walk, Alyssa Henderson and Josey Michalski each added sacrifice flies, and the Bearcats benefited from a Franciscan error that allowed three unearned runs to score.
 
Macie McHugh and Mackenzie Favero followed with RBI singles, Dudenhoeffer ripped a two-run double to right center, and Samantha Farrell capped the inning with a four-run homer to center to make it 14-2.
 
Saint Vincent kept rolling in the fourth, scoring four more times. Lily Rush crossed the plate on a wild pitch before Natalie Bizup lined an RBI single down the left field line. Michalski and A.J. Arnal then each drew RBI walks to push the advantage to 18-2. The Bearcats added three more runs in the fifth, as Dudenhoeffer drove in a run on a fielder's choice, Michalski worked another RBI walk, and Arnal brought home the final run of the game with a groundout.
 
The Bearcats finished with 21 runs on 10 hits while drawing 16 walks. McHugh scored four runs and went 2-for-2 with an RBI, Dudenhoeffer drove in four runs, Farrell homered and totaled four RBIs, and Michalski finished with three RBIs and three walks. Favero added an RBI and two runs scored, while Bizup chipped in an RBI single off the bench.
 
In the circle, A.J. Arnal earned the win to improve to 6-5 after allowing two runs on four hits over 4.0 innings with three strikeouts. Mya McHugh tossed a scoreless fifth inning in relief as Saint Vincent held Franciscan to five hits.
 
Game 2- Saint Vincent 15, Franciscan 4 (6 Innings)
The Saint Vincent College softball team completed a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of Franciscan University with a 15-4 victory in six innings in game two on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, the Bearcats improved to 13-13 overall and 7-7 in PAC play, while the Barons fell to 3-19 overall and 1-11 in conference action.
 
Saint Vincent struck first in the top of the first. Mackenzie Favero walked, stole second and came around to score on an RBI single to right center by Alyssa Henderson for the game's opening run.
 
The Bearcats then broke the game open with a six-run second inning. Macie McHugh scored on a bunt single by Favero that turned into a throwing error, and Emily Dudenhoeffer followed with a three-run home run to left. Samantha Farrell later brought home Josey Michalski with a groundout, and Taylor Williams added an RBI single to make it 7-0.
 
The Bearcats added two more runs in the third to stretch the lead to 9-0. Josey Michalski delivered an RBI single and later advanced to second on an error, allowing Alyssa Henderson to score as well. Franciscan got on the board in the fourth when Lorelei Smaciarz scored on a throwing error, but Saint Vincent answered in the fifth as Farrell reached on a fielder's choice that plated Dudenhoeffer for a 10-1 edge.
 
Franciscan cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a three-run homer by Smaciarz, trimming the deficit to 10-4. Saint Vincent responded with five runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away.
 
 Dudenhoeffer singled home McHugh, Henderson doubled in Favero, and Michalski capped the scoring with a three-run homer to left center that scored both Dudenhoeffer and Henderson.
 
The Bearcats finished with 15 runs on 17 hits. Dudenhoeffer went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs, while Michalski also finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a home run. Henderson was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, Favero scored three times, and McHugh added a 2-for-4 day with two runs scored, a double and a triple.
 
In the circle, Natalie Bizup earned the win to improve to 6-4 after allowing four runs, none earned, on six hits over 5.0 innings. A.J. Arnal worked the final inning in relief and allowed one hit while striking out one. Saint Vincent's offense backed the pitching staff with 17 hits, while the Bearcats limited Franciscan to seven hits in the win.
 
Saint Vincent returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 12 with a road non-conference doubleheader at Carlow. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12 noon at West Mifflin High School.