Bethune-Cookman Box Score
Bowling Green State Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. (March 2, 2012) – The Saint Francis University softball team opened up 2012 by going 1-1 on the first day of the USF Under Armour Invitational.

In a victorious opening game, the Red Flash (1-1) defeated Bethune-Cookman (3-13) by a tight 3-1 score. Freshman Taylor Parsons led off the top of the first with a single up the middle and was moved over one base on a sacrifice bunt by Davina Kachnovitz. Senior Paige Smith (Saugus, Calif./Valencia) collected a single of her own, advancing Parsons to third. After Smith swiped second, Chelsy Cosentino (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area) recorded a two-out single that scored both Parsons and Smith.

Parsons led the charge to another run once more in the top of the third when she doubled to center. On a Kachnovitz groundout, Parsons moved up one base to third and then scored on a passed ball. The Wildcats tallied its only run of the contest in the latter part of the third on a groundout to second.

Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) tossed all seven innings for the Red Flash allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out three. In all, Saint Francis picked up eight hits with Parsons and Smith accumulating two each.

Immediately following the game with the Wildcats, Saint Francis squared off against Bowling Green State (5-3) and fell to the Falcons 1-0. The Red Flash had opportunities to cash in on a few runs but struggled to successfully get a runner across home plate.

To open the top of the third, Layne singled to the shortstop and Chelsea Rex reached on a bunt single with Layne moving up to third on an error. SFU recorded three consecutive outs however and failed to drive in a run.

Another prime scoring chance came in the next inning. Senior Kaitlin Andler (Evanston, Ill./Evanston) doubled down the left field line to put herself in scoring position. With two outs, Chasity Myers singled to right field but Andler was thrown out at the plate attempting to score.

In the top of the sixth inning, back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Flash with just one out. The game remained scoreless to that point though as SFU hit into two consecutive fielder's choice plays, stopping their threat.

Unfortunately for Saint Francis the game would end in walk off fashion as the Falcons Katie Yoho blasted a solo homerun over the center field fence leading off the bottom of the seventh.

Despite being dealt the loss, Rex had a fine collegiate pitching debut. The Pennsylvania product threw six innings surrendering just the one run and four hits while dealing four strikeouts. Andler collected two hits in the loss.

Saint Francis continues its stay at the USF Under Armour Invitational tomorrow with games at 9:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. against Central Michigan and Western Michigan, respectively.