JOLIET, Ill. - University of St. Francis maintained its hold on first place in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball standings with a doubleheader sweep of Cardinal Stritch Friday afternoon at Silver Cross Field. The Saints won the contests by scores of 15-4 and 7-2.

USF (31-13, 21-5) remained one full game ahead of second-place Saint Xavier thanks to a barrage of long balls -- including one in each game by sophomore right fielder Tom Whelan (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) -- in the wins over Stritch (16-30, 8-18). The Saints pounded out four home runs in the opener, including a three-run shot by junior designated hitter Brent Walters (Lisle H.S./Lisle, IL) that pushed the St. Francis lead to 15-4 and ended the game due to the 10-run rule in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The first three USF homers came in the second inning of game number one. Whelan led off with his first career homer to push USF's early lead to 4-0. Senior third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) clubbed a two-run blast to right center one out later and senior catcher Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) followed Zurales with another solo shot.

Grady finished the game with three hits and a pair of RBI. Zurales, senior center fielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL), Walters and freshman first baseman Joe Ruge (Riverside-Brookfield H.S./North Riverside, IL) all added two hits apiece. Sophomore right-hander Matt Huck (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL) worked all five innings and improved his record to 5-0 with the win.

The Saints jumped out early again in game two, scoring twice in the first and three times in the second to take a 5-1 lead. Whelan's second home run of the day, a two-run shot also to right field, ended the scoring in the sixth and provided for the final 7-2 margin.

Whelan, Heasley and senior left fielder Tom Serruto (Glenbard West H.S./Glen Ellyn, IL) all had two hits each to lead USF's 11-hit attack. Starting pitcher Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) worked the first six innings and got credit for the win (4-4). Koehler allowed four hits and two earned runs with two walks and three strikeouts.

The Saints have now won 18 of their last 20 games overall and have run their CCAC-winning streak to 16 games. 

The two teams conclude the three-game series Saturday morning with a nine-inning single game at 11 a.m. at Silver Cross Field.

Following Saturday's game, USF has just three regular-season games left on the schedule. USF travels to Deerfield for a CCAC twin bill at Trinity International on Wednesday and returns home to play the Trojans in a conference single game on Thursday.