FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2010) – The Saint Francis softball team jumped out to a 3-1 lead against Georgia Southern, but the Eagles rallied to steal a 5-3 victory on the first day of the Florida Gulf Coast University Spring Break Invitational, at the FGCU Softball Complex.

The Red Flash offense struggled in the second game of the day, dropping a 4-0 contest against Villanova. SFU will be back in action at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday when it faces Eastern Michigan at the FGCU Spring Break Invite.

In the day's first game, Georgia Southern took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Red Flash took advantage of an error to score three runs in the fifth inning. However, the Eagles scored one in the bottom half of the inning and three more in the sixth for the 5-3 win.

Six different players had hits for Saint Francis, while sophomore Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) (Vallejo, Calif. / Rodriquez) suffered from three errors on the mound. She gave up five unearned runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking three in 6.0 innings.

Senior Kelly Cortese (Coatesville, PA/Bishop Shanahan) (Coatesville, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan) had a single, walk, stolen base, RBI and run scored in the contest.

Villanova pitcher Molly Manning held Saint Francis without a hit in the nightcap, making the Wildcats' four runs hold up. Freshman Carmen Gurrola (Arleta, Calif. / John F. Kennedy) had her collegiate debut spoiled in the game. She pitched solidly, allowing just four runs (one unearned) on nine hits. Gurrola struck out one and walked three in 7.0 innings of work.