DOVER, Del. (Mar. 16, 2008) – The Saint Francis softball team carried the momentum of an emotional win on Saturday into a non-conference battle with Central Connecticut State on Sunday afternoon, and the Red Flash exploded for a season-high eight runs in an 8-0 victory over the Blue Devils to close the Capital Classic, which was hosted by Delaware State University.
Junior Kara Stroup (Valencia, Pa. / Mars) ended the game with an RBI single up the middle to plate senior Nicole Bender (Patton, Pa. / Cambria Heights) with the eighth run to put the mercy rule in effect in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Red Flash left two runners on base with two outs when the game was called.
It marked the first time Saint Francis had ended a game with a mercy rule victory since a 9-1 win over Norfolk State at last year's Delaware State tournament.
In this victory, juniors Hilary McNelis (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone), Nicole Waligora (Johnstown, Pa. / Westmont Hilltop), and Kelly Slingwine (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine Richland) collected two hits each. Senior Nicole Bender (Patton, Pa. / Cambria Heights) also hit the 19th home run of her career, moving her into a second-place tie on SFU's all-time list with Autumn Helsel.
Waligora, who had an outstanding tournament, got the Red Flash on the board in the bottom of the first inning by lacing a double into the left field corner. Slingwine, who singled in her at-bat, came around to score all the way from first base on the play.
Sophomore Jerrica Smith (Breezewood, Pa. / Everett) pitched her second outstanding game of the weekend for her fourth win of the season. However, she found herself in trouble for the only time on the day in the top of the second inning after giving up a one-out single and back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases. But she got a pop out to second base to preserve Saint Francis' 1-0 lead.
Waligora led off the fourth inning with a line drive single through the left side of the infield. McNelis came to the plate looking to advance her to second base with a bunt, but wound up with a single when nobody covered first base on the sacrifice attempt. After a strikeout, freshman Erin Finlay (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada / Cardinal Newman) reached on an error that allowed Waligora to score and McNelis to move to third base. Finlay then stole second base and scored, along with McNelis, on a two-out, two-run single by sophomore Kelly Cortese (Coatesville, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan). Bender then launched her second home run of the season, a two-run blast, to give the Red Flash a 6-0 lead.
The Red Flash put together another mini two-out rally in the fifth inning after McNelis belted a double to left-center field. Sophomore Stephanie Griffin (Dupont, Pa. / Pittston Area) singled through the left side to move McNelis to third base, and the SFU third-year player then scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-0.
Bender scored the clinching run in the bottom of the sixth inning after reaching on a fielder's choice. She moved to second base on a single by Slingwine and then came around to score just ahead of the throw on Stroup's single.
Smith earned her career-best fourth victory with her first career shutout. She struggled with her control with four walks, but struck out three and gave up just three hits in the game. Smith went 2-0 on the weekend and gave up just one run on seven hits with nine strikeouts and seven walks in 13.0 innings. Opponents hit just .159 against her as she had a 0.54 ERA.
Waligora hit .636 in the four-game tournament as she went 7-for-11 with two doubles, three RBIs, an .818 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage.
The Red Flash tied a season-high with 11 hits and won their second straight game for the first time this season. They finished the tournament with a 2-2 record. Championship-round games were originally scheduled to be played, but were canceled due to heavy rains over the night on Saturday.
Saint Francis will return to action when it plays Niagara (11:30 a.m.) and UMBC (1:30 p.m.) on Thursday at the UMBC Spring Classic. The Tournament will continue on Friday and Saturday.
