ORLANDO, Fla. (Mar. 6, 2009) -- The Saint Francis softball team picked up their fifth consecutive win at the Rebel Games in Orlando, Florida, before ending the winning streak in game two. The Red Flash battled past Detroit Mercy in game one by a score 14-6. In game two, Saint Francis dropped a nail-biter to Holy Cross, 4-3.
In game one, both Detroit Mercy and the Flash brought their bats as each team scored early and often. The Flash took an early lead in the second inning when senior Nicki Waligora (Johnstown, PA/ Westmont Hilltop) hit a solo home run to make it 1-0.
Detroit Mercy battled back in the top of the third inning as timely hitting and errors allowed the team to get ahead 3-1.
However, the Flash scored two more runs in the third inning. Freshman Katie McMellen (Kingsville, OH/ Edgewood) led off the inning with a single before senior Kelly Slingwine (Gibsonia, PA /Pine Richland) (Gibsonia, PA/ Pine Richland) roped a home run to tie the game. The Flash continued their hot hitting through the next three innings, scoring eleven runs to secure a mercy rule win. Detroit Mercy's only other threat came in the bottom of the fifth inning when they drove in three runs.
McMellen and Slingwine led the Red Flash offense as McMellen went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Slingwine added two hits, five RBIs, and two runs scored. Senior Kara Stroup (Valencia, PA /Mars) (Valencia, PA/ Mars) also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Freshman Megan Layne (Vallejo, CA/ Rodriguez) recorded her second career win on the mound. Layne came in the game to relieve starter, senior Laura Caldwell (Bellefonte, PA /Bellefonte) (Bellefonte, PA/ Bellefonte), in the third inning.
In game two, Holy Cross's early lead was enough to contain the Flash for the remainder of the game. The Chargers drove in three runs in the bottom of the first inning and added one more in the second to take a 4-0 lead.
However, the Flash battled back in the third inning. McMellen led off the inning with a single. She stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Slingwine's clutch double plated McMellen to make the score 4-1.
Saint Francis answered again in the fifth inning when freshman Cassie Emerson (Lincoln, CA/ Lincoln) singled to right field. Junior Kelly Cortese (Coatesville, PA/Bishop Shanahan) (Coatesville, PA/ Bishop Shanahan) followed with a sacrifice bunt that moved Emerson to second base. Senior Janelle McCoy (New Paris, PA /Chestnut Ridge) (New Paris, PA/ Chestnut Ridge) tripled, scoring Emerson to narrow the Charger's lead to 4-2.
SFU's only other threat came in the sixth inning when Slingwine led off the inning with a single. Slingwine stole second and advance to third base on a wild pitch before Waligora was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and third. Sophomore Michelle Spisak (McKees Rocks, Pa/Sto-Rox) (McKees Rocks/ Sto-Rox), who entered the game to run for Waligora, got into a rundown while Slingwine scored the Flash's third and final run of the game.
Starting pitcher, junior Jerrica Smith (Breezewood, PA /Everett) (Breezewood, PA/ Everett), took the loss for Saint Francis.
SFU will play its next games Saturday in Orlando when they take on Youngstown State and Valaparaiso.
