St. Ambrose split a doubleheader at Saint Xavier Thursday, winning the first game 5-0 before dropping the finale 4-3.

Sergio Marchizza was dominant in the opener. The junior right-hander allowed just three hits while striking out four in throwing a complete-game shutout.

The Bees got the only run they would need in the top of the first. Jake Mucha started the game by drawing a walk and Noah McCreary followed with an infield hit. With two outs, Joey Fitzgerald ripped a ground-rule double to center to score Mucha.

SAU (8-11, 2-4 CCAC) added a pair of runs in the third. Adrian Zietara grounded out to short to bring in Brandon Matias and Dan Laughery hit a double to left to plate Bryce Vincent.

Zietara hit a sacrifice fly to score Chris McFarland in the fifth inning before McCreary capped the scoring with a solo home run in the seventh.

Marchizza surrendered two hits in the second inning. He then retired nine in a row before allowing a one-out single in the fifth. Marchizza would not allow another hit. Saint Xavier's only other base runner reached on a one-out error in the bottom of the seventh before Marchizza quickly retired the next two hitters to end the game.

McCreary and Matias each finished with two hits. Garrett Latoz also had a hit in the win.

The Bee bats were quieter in the second game as SAU managed seven hits in the 4-3 loss. Trailing 2-0 after four, Caden Thode got the team on the board with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. After the Cougars extended their lead to 3-1, the Bees come back in the ninth.

Zietara started the frame by drawing a walk and Laughery followed suit. Vincent beat out a bunt single to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Zietara to score to cut the deficit to 3-2 and McFarland walked to reload the bases. With one out, Mucha drove in Laughery on a ground out to tie the game.

But SXU won the game in the bottom of the ninth. A one-out single and walk was followed by a walk-off hit.

The loss spoiled a big day for Vincent, who finished 4-for-4. McCreary, Zietara and Brock Webber also had hits.

Jake Jacek took the loss. Jacob Bosse started and allowed two runs over four innings. Brad Niedzwiedz surrendered a single run over four innings of relief.

The two teams will finish their four-game series at NelsonCorp Field in Clinton, Iowa, Saturday.