Saint Francis University Athletics

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 2, 2015) - The Saint Francis U softball team started it's play in Florida in impressive fashion on Sunday afternoon. Though the Red Flash fell to Lehigh 3-2 and the No. 8 ranked Bulldogs 1-0, there were plenty of things to be in good spirits about for SFU heading into it's game with the Dolphins of Jacksonville University.
 
Blaire Lauthers (Doylesburg, Pa./Fannett-Metal) turned in another outstanding performance in the circle as she went the distance allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits while walking three and striking out one. She was tagged with the tough luck loss, her first of the season.
 
Lehigh broke through in the first inning as Alexis Watanbe smacked a single up the middle to bring home Nicole Yozzo. Watanbe struck again in the third as she ripped a single into left field to bring home Lehigh's second run of the afternoon. Each team exchanged zeros in the box score until the Flash finally figured out starter, Christine Campbell in the sixth inning.
 
With Jordan Seneca (New Kensington, Pa./Plum) standing 60 feet away, Lindsey Reid (Bear, Del./Caravel Academy) pushed a ground ball to the right side of infield to bring home the first run for Saint Francis. Lehigh answered right back in the top half of the seventh as MacKenzie Velasquez hit a sharp ball to third giving the two run advantage back to LU. 
 
SFU would not go quietly in the seventh as it pushed across one more run to cut into Lehigh's lead. Kindra Witthus(Hudson, Wis./Hudson) doubled home Alexis Bower (Cogan Station, Pa./Williamsport Area) for the Flash's final run. 
 
Bower got the start in the nightcap versus the Bulldogs. Like Lauthers, Bower twirled a gem on the mound. She worked four innings, not allowing a hit though she surrendered an unearned run in inning number three. Over her four innings of work she struck out one and walked three.  
 
Ethel Santai (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area) came in relief of Bower and allowed the only UGA hit to Niaja Griffin. Santai worked two scoreless innings and the only other base runner she allowed to reach base came courtesy of a walk. 
 
Offensively Saint Francis could not figure out Georgia starter, Brittany Gray. She did not allow a hit through her six innings of work as she struck out five and walked two to complete the no-hitter. The only base runners to reach for the Flash were Bower and Chelsea Rex (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola). 
 
Saint Francis returns to action versus Jacksonville University on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 4 P.M.