Shawn Rigsby played the hero in an exciting back-and-forth opening game against the University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Wednesday.

The Bees jumped out to an early lead in game 1 against the Saints. In the bottom of the first inning, Liam Dennehy hit a single to left center and stole second to get in scoring position. After Cooper Huckabone drew a walk, Cole Aughenbaugh doubled on a sharp ground ball down the left field line to knock in Dennehy from second.

In the second inning, Mike Coughlin drew a one-out walk to get on base. Gabriel Panza stepped up to the plate and launched a fastball into the gap in right center, getting Coughlin all the way around the bases to extend the Bees lead. With Adam Gaydos courtesy running for Panza, Dennehy roped another single to left field to punch in the runner and give the Bees a 3-0 lead.

After a failed rundown resulted in a run scored in the third and a three-RBI double in the fifth put the Saints up 4-3, the Bees would retaliate in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and nobody on base, Dennehy stepped up and launched a no-doubter over the wall in left center to tie up the game.

After six quick outs in the seventh inning, game 1 went to extra innings. With two outs yet again, Panza hit a clutch single to left field to get the winning run on base. Gaydos replaced Panza on the basepaths and quickly stole second to put himself in scoring position. Rigsby then smacked a base hit to right center to punch in the game-winning run for the Bees.

Colton Carr had a great game on the mound, pitching the complete eight innings and picking up the win. Carr only allowed three earned runs on eight hits, striking out four and surrendering zero walks in 33 batters faced.

Game 2 was just as exciting as the first, with a plethora of runs put up on the scoreboard and five lead changes in yet another extra inning game.

St. Francis quickly established a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Bees would keep pace. Rigsby was hit by a pitch, Dennehy singled to center field and Huckabone drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Brenden Bulter blasted a two-run double to deep center field to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Bees weren't done yet. In the bottom of the second, Coughlin reached base on a dropped third-strike that got past the catcher. Panza drew a walk and Gaydos ran the bases for him. The runners were moved over to second and third on a balk by the St. Francis pitcher. With Coughlin now 90-feet from home, a Rigsby sacrifice fly to center field knocked in the tying run with ease. Another St. Francis balk moved Gaydos over to third. Dennehy drew a walk and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Huckabone hit a sacrifice fly of his own to score the go-ahead run. Aughenbaugh punched in the third run of the inning on a line drive single to left field, putting the Bees up 5-3 early.

The Saints would respond with four straight runs in three innings, putting the Bees in 7-5 hole. In the bottom of the fifth, St. Ambrose had runners on first and second with two outs. Rigsby hit another clutch RBI single to cut the lead to 7-6. To keep the inning alive, Mike Coughlin drew a key walk to load the bases for Panza. Panza turned on a high inside pitch and sent it screaming down the left field line and over the fence for a grand slam, putting the Bees up 10-7.

However, the bats would heat up for St. Francis at the worst time, knocking in the three needed runs to tie the game and force extras. The Saints would put up eight runs in the blink of an eye and put the game out of reach. The Bees would lose the thrilling game 2, 18-10.

James Cormier was the starting pitcher for the Bees in game 2. He tossed five innings, struck out five and only allowed one walk in 27 batters faced. Jacob Sciame, Casey Hollan and Mitch Thompson all came in for relief. Hollan was credited with the loss.

The split doubleheader with St. Francis moves the Bees to 6-13 overall and 2-1 in the CCAC. The Bees will take Modern Woodmen again this Saturday, where they will host Saint Xavier University in another conference doubleheader.