Georgetown Box Score
Coppin State Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. (March 16, 2012) – For the first time in the young 2012 season, the Saint Francis University softball team swept a pair of games, squeaking past Georgetown before downing Coppin State later in the afternoon. With SFU's 9-8 record, this is the first time the Flash have had a winning record through their first 17 games since they went 11-6 in 2002.

To start the doubleheader, the Red Flash squared off with Georgetown (10-16) for the second time this season. SFU got the better of the Hoyas in their first meeting in a 1-0 defensive bout. In Friday's morning contest, Saint Francis got on the board first in the bottom of the first thanks to a solo shot to center field off the bat of freshman Taylor Parsons, her first collegiate homerun.

The Flash added another run in their next offensive at-bat. Courtney Francis (Jefferson, Ohio/Jefferson Area) drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a two-bagger to right by Brianna Garcia (Riverside, Calif./Arlington). Davina Kachnovitz then laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to push Francis home from third.

Georgetown cut the lead to one in the top of inning three with a solo homerun of its own, also was the Hoyas first hit of the game to that point. That would be all either team would get as SFU outlasted Georgetown for a 2-1 final score.

Brooke Koch (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) (3-0) remains perfect on the year in the win/loss column after picking up the W against the Hoyas. Koch tossed all seven innings and surrendered just two hits and one earned run while striking out two.

Saint Francis pounded out nine hits and six runs against Coppin State (5-10) to earn the 6-3 victory. The Flash opened up scoring in the top of the third. With Garcia and Kachnovitz on the base paths, SFU made a two-out rally to put three runs on the board. Paige Smith (Saugus, Calif./Valencia) collected the first of her three hits in the contest by doubling to the left center gap, scoring both Garcia and Kachnovitz. In the next at-bat, Andler singled, moving Smith to third. Smith would then score on an error by CSU's shortstop.

In the top of the fifth, SFU added their fourth run of the game on an RBI single by Chelsea Rex that scored Smith. Saint Francis added two more insurance runs in their portion of the seventh. Parsons doubled to left and was pinch run for. Smith recorded her third hit of the game and second double, driving in the runner from second. Smith then scored SFU's final run on an additional error by Coppin State.

Coppin State threatened in their final inning, scoring three runs, but Saint Francis held on to push their season above .500.

Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) (4-3) threw all seven innings to earn the victory in the circle. Layne gave up six hits and just one earned run while firing six strikeouts.

Saint Francis concludes its stay at the UMBC Spring Classic tomorrow morning with a 10:15 a.m. contest against Rhode Island.