Loretto, Pa. – For the first time under second-year head coach Sabrina Lane's guidance, the Red Flash softball team swept their first Northeast Conference double header against the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Saturday afternoon with final scores of 10-2 and 4-2.
Junior first baseman Hilary McNelis (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone) jacked her first career homerun, a grand slam blast to straight away center, off of Kristin Sheriff to secure an 8-2 lead before the Flash tacked on two more in the end to claim the front end of the twin bill. McNelis upstaged herself in the second part of the two-game matinee with what proved to be the game winning homerun in the bottom of the sixth. The Flash were up 3-0 after McNelis' second career round-tripper, but Quinnipiac clawed back with two runs in the top of the seventh to stage a comeback. The first baseman's slam solidified SFU's game two victory. McNelis put together a 4-for-6, six RBI performance in Saturday's showdown.
Junior fireballer Laura Caldwell (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) claimed her fourth victory of the seasonin game one, throwing for seven Ks on five hits and one earned run. Sophomore hurler Jerrica Smith (Everett, Pa./Breezewood) followed suit in the second half of the day for her sixth win of the ledger, fanning one Bobcat on six hits and two earned runs.
Junior catcher Kara Stroup (Valencia, Pa./Mars) tacked on her team-leading seventh homer in the bottom of the fifth inning of game one, mashing a belt-high meatball over the left center field fence. The veteran backstopper took down a 2-for-3, two RBI routine in SFU's rout.
In game one, the Red Flash attacked first in the second stanza, instigated by a Nicole Waligora (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) slap down the right field line. The designated hitter was moved over on a sacrifice bunt, followed up by McNelis' first RBI of the game; a finessed single up the middle plating Waligora.
Quinnipiac countered in the top of the fourth when Sheriff found a hole in the left side of the infield chased by a Christine Bordeau smack up the middle, scooting pinch runner Brittany Wyskiel to third. Wyskiel made her way home on a throwing error to knot the game at 1-1, but the Bobcats were not finished with the offense just yet. Cary Simms knocked in Bordeau on an RBI single to right field, giving QU their first and only lead of the day, 2-1.
Saint Francis' bottom of the fifth, seven run performance commenced on a Richele Hall (Beaver Falls, Pa./Riverside) one-bagger. Senior centerfielder Nicole Bender (Patton, Pa./Cambria Heights) laid down a perfect bunt, nudging Hall over to second while Bender beat out the throwing attempt. Junior shortstop Kelly Slingwine (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine Richland) arrived at first on a fielder's choice, eventually rounding the corner to second on a throwing error. Bender was called out at second, but Hall touched home to tie the game at 2-2. Stroup's dramatics rang up a two-run dinger to straight away center, stretching the affair to 4-2. Following the blast, Waligora was given a free pass to first chased by a Stephanie Griffin (Dupont, Pa./Pittston Area) base-hit. Waligora made her way all the way to third on an errant throw. Sophomore Jamie Dixon (Revloc, Pa./Central Cambria) found herself in a pinch-hitting role and kept a close watch in the count, obtaining another runner for SFU on a walk. With all three ducks on the pond, Waligora' first career homerun blast allowed SFU to breathe easy with an 8-2 advantage.
Waligora's walk-off two-run double to right center closed out the initial contest 10-2. Sophomore left fielder Kelly Cortese (Coatesville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) grabbed her first hit of the day on a single up the gap, followed by swiping second on the play. Stroup was dealt a walk, allowing Waligora to clean up with the game-ending bash.
Waligora finished with a 3-for-3, two RBI and two run performance in game one.
In the later part of the day, Saint Francis scored two runs in the bottom of the third to take an early command. Bender roped a double into right center as Cortese followed suit, pushing her teammate over to third base. Slingwine's dart to right center plated both baserunners in the one out situation.
The fourth inning was privy to another Red Flash tally, set off by another McNelis hit up the open middle. Sophomore Christine Aulbach (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) substituted in on the base paths, relieving McNelis of her duties. Freshman right fielder Erin Finlay (Scarborough, Ont./Cardinal Newman) got the start in game two, doing her job in moving the runner to second on a routine play to short. Hall cleared the corridor with an RBI single, lengthening SFU's lead to 3-0. McNelis inserted one more run into the box score on her solo blast, her second jack of the day, in the bottom of the sixth.
Quinnipiac staged a comeback as Sheriff started on the seventh with a double. Bordeau put in her two cents with a two-run blister over the center field wall. Smith held the Bobcats after the homerun, as Saint Francis maintained the victory, 4-2.
The Red Flash (12-26, 3-5) will attempt to keep the momentum dial on high as SFU hosts NEC adversary Central Connecticut for a doubleheader on Sunday, April 13 at 12pm on Red Flash Softball Field.
