ORMOND BEACH, Fla. --- University of St. Francis rallied from an eight-run deficit to win 9-8 in the first game of a doubleheader with Ohio Dominican University, but the Panthers got the best of the Saints in Game 2 with a 12-2 victory to escape with one win in the three-game series that concluded on Monday.

USF (2-1) dug itself the 8-0 hole after the first four innings of the opener thanks in part to a three-run home run by JT Feldkamp in the first inning and a grand slam by John Bowron in the second off St. Francis starter Joe Koehler (Michigan State University/Worth, IL).

The Saints, however, got all seven of those runs back in the fifth inning keyed by a bases-clearing double by senior second baseman Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) and a two-run home run by senior centerfielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL). Junior catcher Brent Walters (Lisle H.S./Lisle, IL) and sophomore shortstop David Schwabe (Driscoll Catholic H.S./Wood Dale, IL) also had run-producing hits in the frame with Schwabe's being a double to right field.

USF then completed the rally in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI double by senior third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) and Heasley's game-winning single.

Witczak and senior leftfielder Tom Serruto (Glenbard West H.S./Glen Ellyn, IL) both posted multi-hit games for the second time in as many contests with Witczak going 3-for-4.

Sophomore hurler Bobby Markatos (Stagg H.S./Palos Hills, IL) (1-0) notched the victory for the Saints with two innings of perfect baseball to close out the affair.

In the nightcap, Ohio Dominican (2-7) jumped on St. Francis starter Steve Kazak (Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, IL) (0-1) for eight runs in the first two innings, including seven in the second, and 12 total to run away with the contest.

USF's lone two runs came in the fifth inning of the shortened affair when senior catcher Pat Grady (Carl Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) and sophomore rightfielder Tom Whelan (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) produced RBI singles. Whelan also accounted for two of USF's five hits in the game.

The Saints meet Jamestown College (ND) for a twinbill Tuesday morning.