UMBC Box Score
Siena Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. (March 15, 2012) – On day one of the UMBC Spring Classic, the Saint Francis University softball team split a doubleheader to host UMBC and Siena.

Playing in their first set of games since last Saturday, the Red Flash (7-8) opened the five-game classic against host UMBC (8-11). The Retrievers got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first with a leadoff homerun by Jessica Warner. Saint Francis would answer in the next half inning with a three-run outburst. Chelsy Cosentino (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area) connected on a double to left center and moved up one base on a groundout to second base.

After Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) drew a two-out walk, each of SFU's two base runners stole their next respective bags, tying the contest at one. On the next play, Brianna Garcia (Riverside, Calif./Arlington) drove in Layne from second thanks to an RBI single. The Flash tallied their third run of the inning in similar fashion to how the first was scored. Davina Kachnovitz beat out an infield single to advance Garcia to third and each then swiped a bag that recorded SFU's third run.

Saint Francis tacked on another run in the fourth by way of Garcia's second RBI single of the afternoon to drive in Cosentino from third. In the top of the seventh, SFU added some insurance markers thanks to a three-run blast by Paige Smith (Saugus, Calif./Valencia), her first of the season and the first for the Red Flash. Karlie Miller (Wildomar, Calif./Temescal Canyon) knocked a leadoff single up the middle to get things going and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. After Taylor Parsons registered a single of her own and advanced the runner to third, Smith came through to collect her three RBI.

Brooke Koch (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) (2-0) got the start in the circle against the Retrievers and picked up her second win of the season after tossing all seven innings and allowing just three hits. Koch only gave up one hit, a single, from beyond the third inning.

The Flash picked up right where they left off in game number two against Siena (6-6), scoring a pair of runs to open up the contest. Kachnovitz led off with a walk and moved up to second on a groundout to third. Smith then singled through the left side and advanced to second on a throw that scored Kachnovitz. Chelsea Rex came through with a two-out RBI single of her own that brought in Smith from second.

Unfortunately, the Saints added four runs in the next frame on five hits, including a homerun, and two more in the bottom of the second, giving them a four-run lead following two innings of action. The Flash held Siena scoreless for two innings until the Saints picked up two more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth. SFU recorded one more run in their final offensive inning.

Rex (2-5) suffered the loss after surrendering four hits and four earned runs in the early goings of the contest. Parsons collected two hits in the loss.

Saint Francis is in action again tomorrow at the UMBC Spring Classic as they battle Georgetown and Coppin State at 11:15 a.m. and 4:20 p.m., respectively.