JOLIET, Ill. - Junior David Hexdall (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) fired a 5-hitter and struck out nine to lead University of St. Francis to a 4-2 win over Robert Morris and stave off elimination in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round tournament at Silver Cross Field Wednesday evening.

Hexdall worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and never allowed more than one baserunner in an inning the rest of the way. RMU shortstop Sal Bolanos hit a solo home run in the fifth and the USF righthander did not allow a hit the rest of the way.

USF (36-15) never trailed and snapped a 1-1 tie in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs. Senior third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) started the inning with a run-scoring triple and scored on a single by senior designated hitter Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL). USF scored its first run of the game in the second on the strength of singles by senior center fielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL), junior catcher Brent Walters (Lisle H.S./Lisle, IL) and sophomore right fielder Tom Whelan (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL).

USF logged an important insurance run in the top of the ninth on singles by junior left fielder Tom Serruto (Glenbard West H.S./Glen Ellyn, IL) and senior second baseman Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) and a run-producing infield grounder by sophomore shortstop David Schwabe (Driscoll Catholic H.S./Wood Dale, IL).

A USF error put a Robert Morris runner on board in the ninth but Hexdall then recorded a strikeout and got a ground out to end the game.

Hexdall (6-4) matched a career high with the nine strikeouts and the nine innings marked the longest stint of his collegiate career. The complete game was his fourth of the season.

The victory puts St. Francis into a 3 p.m. elimination game Thursday against No. 2-seeded Campbellsville (KY). The winner of that game will then face the tourney's lone unbeaten team -- top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Cumberland (TN) -- at 7 p.m. A Cumberland victory would send the Bulldogs to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, while a loss would push the tourney into an "if necessary" game on Friday.

USF lost its first game of this tournament to Campbellsville by a 3-0 score on Tuesday afternoon. The win over Robert Morris was the Saints' fourth in as many meetings this year with its Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival. Robert Morris finished the season 40-19 and won one game in the national tournament after winning just six games overall just two seasons ago.