JOLIET - Junior right-handed pitcher Kim Malacina (Lockport H.S./Homer Glen, IL) and sophomore right-handed hurler Jackie Frey (Plainfield South H.S./Plainfield, IL) each went the distance to lead University of St. Francis to a doubleheader sweep of Purdue North Central in the Saints' home and Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference openers on Sunday afternoon.

Malacina scattered 4 hits in pitching the Saints to a 4-1 win in the first game, while Frey allowed only 5 hits and just 1 unearned run in a 6-1 USF win in the nightcap.

USF (6-10, 2-0) never trailed on the sunny and blustery day as the Saints won for just the third time in their last 12 games in the opener. USF took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when senior second baseman Beth Boezeman (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) drew a 2-out walk and then scored on junior catcher C.J. Rupsis' (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) double down the left-field line.

The Saints made it 2-0 in the fifth on a 2-out run-scoring double to right-center field by junior right fielder Kaylee Shell (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) that followed a leadoff walk to sophomore third baseman Brittany Bochenek (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) and a sacrifice bunt by sophomore left fielder Megan O'Brien (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL).

PNC (13-14, 3-5) got its only run in the top of the sixth on a leadoff homer by Sam Michalski. USF answered that with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Rupsis led off with a triple which was followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior shortstop Caitlin Dolan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL). Malacina reached on a two-base error and then scored the final run on a base hit by senior first baseman Stacy Heap (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL).

Malacina struck out 8 batters and walked just three to improve her record to 3-4.

The Saints snapped a scoreless tie in the nightcap with a 3-run fourth that was aided by a pair of PNC defensive miscues. Senior left fielder Maggie O'Shea (Wheeler H.S./Valparaiso, IN) and senior center fielder Kendel Behrens (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) were each credited with an RBI in the frame and the third run scored on an error.

USF added three more unearned runs in the fifth inning with the big blow being a 2-out, 2-run pinch hit single by freshman outfielder Kalli Tobias (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./Manhattan, IL).

Frey was touched for just one unearned run in the sixth and credited with 3 strikeouts. She walked just one batter and improved her record to 2-3.

Behrens and Rupsis were the lone Saints with more than one hit on the day as each finished with a pair of safeties.

USF resumes play on Thursday with another home CCAC doubleheader. Robert Morris visits Joliet for the 4 p.m. twin bill at the Inwood Sports Complex.