ELGIN, Ill. - University of St. Francis scrambled back from a 6-0 first-inning deficit in game one and then pushed across the winning run in the top of the seventh inning of game two to sweep a baseball doubleheader at Judson on Thursday and move past the Eagles into first place in the crowded Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings.

The Saints (26-12, 17-5), who have now won eight consecutive games, 13 of their last 14 and their last 12 straight CCAC games, did not make it easy on themselves in game one when they spotted Judson a 6-0 lead. USF started its comeback in the third inning when the Saints put four runs on the board with junior designated hitter Brent Walters (Lisle H.S./Lisle, IL) and senior third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) contributing run-scoring doubles.

The Saints tied the game with two runs in the fourth and, after allowing a Judson run in the bottom of the fourth, cam back to score the eventual two winning runs in the fifth. A run-scoring triple by freshman first baseman Joe Ruge (Riverside-Brookfield H.S./North Riverside, IL) and a sacrifice fly by sophomore right fielder Tom Whelan (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) provided the runs.

Starting pitcher Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) settled down after the rough first inning and pitched the distance, allowing just one run on five hits in the final six innings after being touched for six runs on eight hits in the first frame.

The Saints let a 5-1 lead get away in game two but found a way to win the contest in their last at bat.

Sophomore shortstop David Schwabe (Driscoll Catholic H.S./Wood Dale, IL) led off the seventh with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, got to third on an infield out by Zurales and then scored on another infield out, this time off the bat of senior designated hitter Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL).

Sophomore closer Corey Schultz (Kankakee H.S./Kankakee, IL) improved his record to a perfect 7-0 by working the final two innings. He was touched for two runs in the sixth, with one being unearned. Junior David Hexdall (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) pitched the first five innings and gave up three runs, one unearned, on seven hits.

Whelan and senior left fielder Tom Serruto (Glenbard West H.S./Glen Ellyn, IL) each had three hits for USF in the second game. Walters and senior second baseman Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) both added two hits in the nightcap as well. Serruto, Schwabe and senior center fielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL) all had a pair of hits in the opening-game win.

USF is now one full game ahead of second-place Judson (29-15, 16-6) in the CCAC standings and two games up on Saint Xavier (14-6) and Olivet Nazarene (15-7). The Saints and Judson complete their three-game series Friday with a single game at Silver Cross Field at 3:30 p.m.