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Saint Francis welcomes the Robert Morris University Colonials to Loretto for their 2013 Northeast Conference home opener. These pair of games this afternoon were originally scheduled for the end of March but winter weather caused a postponement.

This is perhaps one of the longest running series in SFU softball program history with 73 games being played in all between these two Pennsylvania schools. The Colonials have a 51-21 advantage in the all-time series. Saint Francis has not beaten RMU since the opening round of the NEC tournament back in 2008.

SAINT FRANCIS' LAST TIME OUT...
In Northeast Conference action on Sunday, the Red Flash split a doubleheader at Mount St. Mary's SFU suffered a 5-2 setback in game one but pulled out a 4-1 victory in the second contest. The Flash got solid pitching in game two from sophomore Chelsea Rex (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola), who let up just the one run.
Rex improved her pitching record to 5-2 on the year and delivered three strikeouts in the game. Davina Kachnovitz (Bear, Del./Glasgow) added to her team-leading RBI total in the second game as well, picking up her 23rd RBI of the year.

RMU'S LAST TIME OUT...
When the Colonials step on the field this afternoon it will have been a full week since they saw game action. In non-conference action last Tuesday, RMU fell 4-3 in 11 innings to Kent State in game one and tied the Golden Flashes 2-2 in the second game. Game two was called after seven full innings of play due to darkness.
Nicole Sleith's streak of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run came to an end at 34.2 innings.

OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
In terms of league wide statistics, the Red Flash rank in the top-five in the Northeast Conference in nearly all major offensive categories. SFU has pounded out a NEC-best 252 hits on the season and rank third behind conference leader Central Connecticut and Monmouth in runs scored. In the extra base hit categories, Saint Francis ranks second in homeruns (22) and fourth in doubles (42) and triples (5).

BLATTENBERGER BREAKING OUT
Freshman outfielder Kate Blattenberger (Martinsburg, Pa./Central)'s play on the field has come on strong over the course of the past couple of weeks. Since the road doubleheader at Temple, Blattenberger is hitting .295 and has picked up at least one hit in eight of 13 games. During that stretch she has scored eight runs and connected on three long balls, including a game tying two-run shot in the seventh against Cleveland State.

CAREER SEASON
Catcher Chelsy Cosentino (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area) has turned it on here in her junior season. The New Kensington, Pa. native is currently hitting at a .355 clip and ranks tied for first in the NEC in triples and is fifth in two baggers. She leads the team with 43 hits, eight doubles and three triples. As a sophomore, Cosentino batted .163 and has already surpassed all of her offensive totals from a season ago.

REX BACK TO FORM
The SFU lineup has seen a lot of sophomore Chelsea Rex (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) as of late. Rex has filled in nicely at third base and has picked up both her offense and pitching. At Central Connecticut, Rex bombed three homeruns on the day, including the first grand slam of her career. Since her at-bats versus Youngstown State, Rex is batting .294 with 14 RBI and 10 hits. In the circle, she tossed a one-run complete game in a 4-1 victory over Mount St. Mary's and improved her pitching record to 5-2 on the season.