LORETTO, Pa. (Apr. 17, 2010) – Junior Raquel Rugani (Montour, PA/Montour) (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour) hit a two-out, two-run single to deep right field to lead the Saint Francis softball team to a thrilling 5-4 victory over Central Connecticut State in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Red Flash Softball Field.

SFU rallied from a four run deficit to tie Game 2, but the Blue Devils scored one run in the top of the seventh inning for a 5-4 win.

The Red Flash snapped a 13-game losing streak with the Game 1 win, and moved their record to 10-31 on the season, and 2-10 in the Northeast Conference. Saint Francis will return to action at Noon on Sunday when Bryant visits Loretto. SFU will honor the late Heather Miller during the doubleheader by wearing lime green jerseys in remembrance of the 11-year-old who passed away after a battle with cancer.

Rugani led the offensive attack in Game 1 with a career-best 4-for-4 effort, including three RBIs. She tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI single in the third inning. Saint Francis took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI double by senior Stephanie Griffin (Dupont, PA /Pittston Area ) (Dupont, Pa. / Pittston Area), and then a sacrifice fly by freshman Heather Stiglich (Newhall, Calif. / William S. Hart).

But Central Connecticut State answered with two runs in the next half inning on a double by Jaclyn Logan to make it 3-3, and then took a 4-3 lead in the seventh on an RBI single by Logan.

However, the Red Flash rallied in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Katie McMellen (Kingsville, OH /Edgewood) (Kingsville, Ohio / Edgewood) reached on an error and sophomore Courtney Francis (Jefferson, Ohio/Jefferson Area) (Jefferson, Ohio / Jefferson Area) doubled to put the tying and winning runs in scoring position with one out. Freshman Taylor Darneille (Fircrest, Wash. / Wilson) hit the ball on the nose, but her liner was caught by centerfielder Becca Mussatti for the second out. However, Rugani launched a deep fly ball to right field that one-hopped to the fence, allowing McMellen and Francis to score to end the game.

McMellen singled, walked and scored two runs in the game, while sophomore Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) (Vallejo, Calif. / Rodriguez) gave up four runs on eight hits and struck out six and walked three in the complete game victory.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two runs in the first and two more in the second to start Game 2. Junior Michelle Spisak (McKees Rocks, Pa/Sto-Rox) (McKees Rocks, Pa. / Sto-Rox) pinch ran, stole second base and moved to third base on a wild pitch. She eventually scored on a throwing error to put the Red Flash on the board.

McMellen doubled to lead off the third inning, and Darneille followed with a single. After Darneille stole second base, Rugani doubled to right-center field pull SFU within 4-3.

Francis would tie the game at 4-4 with a leadoff home run, her second of the season, in the fifth inning.

However, CCSU scored the game-winning run in the next half inning.

Francis had two hits in the game for Saint Francis, and freshman Carmen Gurrola (Arleta, Calif. / John F. Kennedy) had a strong outing in relief. She gave up one unearned run on two hits in 5.1 innings. She struck out one and walked three.