Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (March 24, 2012) – On its first day of Northeast Conference action, the Saint Francis University softball team split a pair of games on the road at Wagner, taking the first game 8-4 but falling 7-3 in game two.

The Red Flash (11-11, 1-1 NEC) got out to a flying start in game one, scoring two runs in the top of the first. After a Taylor Parsons single and a Paige Smith (Saugus, Calif./Valencia) double that put runners on second and third, freshman Chelsea Rex hit a two-out single that drove in both Parsons and Smith to put SFU on top 2-0.

Wagner (7-17, 1-1 NEC) took the lead however in its first offensive inning, notching three runs across the plate. The Seahawks collected three hits in the inning but also left three on base in the bottom half of the frame.

Saint Francis evened the score at three though in the top of the second thanks to an RBI single by Davina Kachnovitz that scored Taylor Darneille (Fircrest, Wash./Wilson) from second following her one-out two-bagger. A Kaitlin Andler (Evanston, Ill./Evanston) solo blast put the Flash back on top by one run in the fifth inning, her first of the season and SFU's fourth all together.

In the sixth, Saint Francis took advantage of two Wagner errors that led to two runs for the visitors and a 6-4 lead at that point. The Red Flash tallied its final two runs of the opener in its final offensive inning thanks to some two-out magic by Darneille's RBI double and Brianna Garcia (Riverside, Calif./Arlington)'s RBI single, lifting SFU to the four-run victory to open NEC play.

Brooke Koch (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) (4-1) picked up the win after tossing five innings of five hit ball and surrendering just one earned run. Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) tossed two innings of relief and allowed just one hit in her two frames of work.

Wagner struck early in the second game of the afternoon, crossing the plate twice in its first two innings for an early 2-0 advantage. The Seahawks really broke things open in their half of the fourth with four runs on four hits and zero errors in the inning for Saint Francis.

Being down 6-0 in the top of the fifth, SFU brought home two runs to try and get back into the contest. Garcia led off the frame with a double to center field and moved up one base on a passed ball. After two consecutive out plays, Smith drove in Garcia with a double of her own. Andler then brought her senior counterpart around to score on an RBI single, making the score 6-2 Wagner.

Saint Francis got another run in the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly by Garcia that scored Chelsy Cosentino (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area), but it would not be enough for the Red Flash as Wagner added one more insurance run in their half of the sixth to secure the 7-3 win.

Despite pitching 2.2 innings and giving up just two earned runs, Layne (4-5) took the loss. Rex's relief efforts saw her throw 3.1 innings and give up five earned runs on seven hits and four free passes.

Darneille had a solid day offensively, going 4-for-6 at the plate between the two games with one run batted in and two runs scored. All-in-all the Red Flash recorded 11 hits during Saturday's twin bill.

Saint Francis continues its New York road trip Sunday at noon with a doubleheader against LIU Brooklyn.