Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

LORETTO, Pa. (April 14, 2012) – On a rainy Saturday afternoon in Loretto, the Saint Francis University softball team split a Northeast Conference doubleheader with visiting Mount St. Mary's, falling 5-3 in the opener and taking game two 11-2.

In game one it was Mount St. Mary's (11-26, 4-6 NEC) who got on the board first thanks to a fielder's choice that scored a runner from third in the top of the first. The Red Flash (16-20, 5-7 NEC) got ahead though in their half of the first on Taylor Parsons' fourth homerun of the season, a two-run blast over the right center field fence.

The Mountaineers regained the lead in the very next half inning, plating two runs and going up 3-2. SFU tied things up in the bottom of the third on a RBI infield single by Davina Kachnovitz that scored Paige Smith (Saugus, Calif./Valencia) from second. That was all the Flash would be able to get in the opening contest while the Mount scored twice more, tallying one run in the top of the fourth and another in the seventh for the 5-3 victory.

Brooke Koch (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) dropped to 6-4 on the year after starting game one and surrendering four earned runs on five hits in four innings pitched. Megan Layne (Vallejo, Calif./Rodriguez) tossed the remaining three innings in relief and gave up the final Mountaineer run.

Game two was a completely different story for the Flash as they reached the eight-run limit on the Mountaineers in five innings of play. After both teams notched a run apiece in their respective halves of the first inning, the game remained tied until SFU exploded for seven runs in the third, all with two outs.

With Parsons and Chelsea Rex standing in scoring position at second and third, right fielder Karlie Miller (Wildomar, Calif./Temescal Canyon) came through with a two RBI single poked out to right field to put the Flash up 3-1 at that point. Saint Francis picked up a couple more runs on some shaky defense and pitching by the Mount. The final big blow of the inning came when Kachnovitz lined a single to left field, scoring two more.

SFU was not done yet, plating three final runs in their half of the fourth. Once again playing with two outs, the Flash put two runners on by way of a walk and an error on the Mount's shortstop. On senior day, Smith belted a three-run shot to left center to seal the deal for Saint Francis. Mount St. Mary's registered one more run in the fifth but it was not enough to keep the game going.

Rex picked up her fifth pitching decision of the season after throwing all five innings and giving up just one earned run on four hits while striking out a season-best eight batters. Smith hit an impressive 5-for-6 between the two games, collecting four RBI and scoring five runs herself.

Saint Francis returns to the diamond tomorrow afternoon when it hosts Bryant for a doubleheader beginning at noon. It will be SFU's “Hitting for Hope” Charity Day.