St. Ambrose used a fast start to defeat conference-leading St. Francis (Ill.) 6-5 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at St. Vincent's. The Saints claimed the second game 7-0.

On Senior Day, the Bees raced to a 6-0 lead. The scoring started in the second when Allison Polly's squeeze bunt scored Erica Ralfs. Reagan Engberg followed with a sacrifice fly to center to score Mackenzie Stiewe for a 2-0 lead.

Paige Kirkman doubled in Mady Reed to extend the lead to three runs. SAU doubled that lead in the fourth. An error on Engberg's single allowed Polly to score, and another USF error on a Shai Erdrich stolen base brought in Engberg. Becca Haag followed with a single to plate Erdrich for a 6-0 lead.

St. Francis (24-12, 10-4 CCAC) chipped away with one run in the fifth and another in the sixth and put together a big threat in the seventh. With already one run in with no outs and the bases loaded, Cara Linnenkamp got a ground ball and started a 1-2-3 double play. The next batter singled to bring in two to cut the lead to 6-5. Another hit put the potential tying run in scoring position but Annebelle Krull induced a ground ball to end the game.

Emilee Erickson didn't allow a hit through four innings. She earned the win after striking out four in five innings. Linnenkamp pitched 1 2/3 innings before Krull recorded the final out to pick up the save.

Erdrich finished 3-for-3 while Stiewe had a pair of hits.

St. Ambrose (16-23, 5-6 CCAC) managed only four total hits in the second game, yet had several scoring opportunities, putting at least one runner on base in each of the first six innings. Erdrich led off the bottom of the first with a single and Alyssa Schumacher started the second with a hit, but SAU's best chance came in the fourth.

Kirkman and Schumacher had back-to-back hits to start the inning and Ralfs moved them both into scoring position with a ground out to second. After a strikeout, Stiewe walked to load the bases, before Taylor Martyn grounded out to end the threat.

Ralfs was charged with the loss. Leah Maro pitched the final two innings.

Between games, the team recognized its seniors - Erdrich, Erickson, Gracie Jevyak, Krull, Polly, Schumacher, Cassie Sprout, Stiewe and Kayla Weber.

SAU will host Calumet Monday.