NORFOLK, Va.  (Mar. 12, 2011) – The Saint Francis softball team received strong pitching from junior Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) and freshman Brooke Koch to earn a pair of shutout victories on the first day of the Norfolk State Spartan Clash.

 

Junior Katie McMellen (Kingsville, OH /Edgewood) went 3-for-4 with a double, 2 RBIs and a stolen base to lead the Red Flash to a 7-0 victory over Norfolk State, and then drove in two more runs in a 5-0 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore later in the day.

 

Saint Francis improved to 5-15 on the season, and will return to action at 11 a.m. on Sunday with a game against Marist. SFU will then close out the tournament with a 1 p.m. clash with Delaware.

 

In the first game against the Spartans, Layne gave up four hits, struck out six and walked two in her first shutout of the season. Freshmen Jasa Mitchell and Chelsy Cosentino, and sophomore Misty Hammel, had two hits each. Sophomore Karlie Miller, Mitchell and Hammel all drove in runs.

 

Sophomore Brianna Garcia paced SFU with two hits in a 5-0 victory over UMES, while Koch struck out five, walked one and allowed just one base hit in her first career shutout. Junior Kaitlin Andler double and drove in a run, and sophomore Taylor Darneille was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

For all the latest information, notes, pictures and related links on Saint Francis softball, follow Director of Athletic Communications Bob Volkert on Twitter (@SFUVolkert) and check www.SFUathletics.com. The Red Flash are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SFUAthletics.