NEWARK, Del. (March 12, 2015) – After wrapping up play in Florida over spring break with a 3-4 record, Saint Francis will look to its strong pitching staff to continue its hot start in 2015 in the Delaware Spring Invitational this week. 
 
The Flash squared off versus Lehigh and the No. 8 University of Georgia to open play at the Citrus Classic and though it fell in both games, the SFU pitching staff limited both teams to a combined four runs. Alexis Bower (Cogan Station, Pa./Williamsport Area), Ketarah DeVries (Forreston, Ill./Forreston), and Ethel Santai (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area) held the Bulldogs to just one hit over six innings on March 1.
 
The bats woke up for the next game versus Jacksonville University and SFU picked up its first win of the road trip. Freshman Jordan Seneca (New Kensington, Pa./Plum) led the offense in the 5-4 victory, picking up two hits and two RBIs.
 
Saint Francis went into the first of four Rebel Spring Games facing a familiar foe in Sacred Heart. The Flash defeated its NEC rival 3-2. Over the next two games the Flash played two tough games against Presbyterian College, falling 3-0 and 8-0. But bounced back against Akron with a 5-1 victory to wrap up play over spring break. 
 
LEADING OFF:  This will be the second time SFU will participate in the Delaware Spring Invitational. The last time Saint Francis competed in this tournament was in 2013; it went 2-1, defeating Villanova and Hartford. Seneca, a New Kensington native, has been on a tear over the course of the last five games. She is sporting a team-leading .348 batting average and is tied for fourth in RBIs (5).
 
Scouting the Wildcats
 
Villanova has played every game this season in the state of Florida. In three tournaments the Wildcats have accumulated a 6-9 record, but are coming into play with Saint Francis on a two-game winning streak. Leading Nova in batting average is Sierra McConnell, who is sporting a .389 clip. Kate Poppe is leading the pitching staff with a 3-5 record and a 2.46 ERA.
 
 
Scouting the Blue Hens
 
Delaware has started 2015 with a 9-6 record. The Blue Hens have played all over the Southeast to open their season, competing in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. Jessica Grisier leads UD in batting average with a .455 clip and is tied for the team lead in homeruns (2). 
 
Scouting Cornell
 
Cornell is coming off a rough start to the 2015 season as it stands with a record of 1-5. Karlie Mellott comes into the tournament this weekend with a stunning .600 BA and has started in all six games. She leads the Big Red in multiple offensive categories, including runs scored and slugging percentage.
 
 
Scouting the Hornets

DSU currently has a 1-10 record in 2015. It's lone victory came against North Carolina Central. Freshman, Vanessa Washington has been the biggest offensive threat for the Hornets thus far. She has racked up a .348 BA over the 11 games while compiling a perfect fielding percentage.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
SFU VS. Villanova:  Nova leads 3-1
Current Streak: SFU W1

SFU VS. Delaware: UD leads 6-4
Current Streak: UD W3

SFU VS. Cornell: First Meeting

SFU VS. DSU: SFU leads 9-0
Current Streak: SFU W9

FLASH FACTS:
    - Senior INF Taylor Parsons (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle) is only three doubles away from becoming the program's all-time leader. The record currently stands at 37 by Kelly Slingwine. Parsons enters play on Saturday with 35 double in her career.

    - The Saint Francis pitching staff held Georgia, the nation's leading team in batting average (.398) to just one hit.

    -In two starts this season, sophomore right-hander Ethel Santai (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area) has thrown two complete games and accumulated an ERA of 1.65.


Fans can follow the game via University of Delaware Live Stats here.