Arlington, Texas - The Saint Francis softball team (10-5) continues its stretch of 14 games in 10 days in the Lone Star State with a pair of midweek doubleheaders at UT Arlington and North Texas. The Red Flash take on UT Arlington on Tuesday, Feb. 28, with the first game slated for 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT. The following day they play a doubleheader at North Texas starting at the same time.

Game One: Live Stats | Live Video ($)    Game Two: Live Stats | Live Video ($)

Scouting UT Arlington

After starting 1-4, the Mavericks have won seven of their last nine to improve to 8-6. The UT Arlington offense has proven tough with five starters hitting over .300. Sophomore Krista Rude, a NFCA Third Team All-Region and Second Team All-Sun Belt selection as a freshman, is leading the way with a .455 batting average and team-high 20 hits. Freshman Aileen Garcia is hitting .351 with two home runs. The Mavericks are hitting .302 as a team. Sam Clakley has been dominant in the circle with a 7-2 record and 0.71 era. Seven of her nine starts have been complete games and four have ended in shutouts. The Mavericks have struggled to find a number two option in support of Clakley. Sam Montes is 1-0 with a 3.91 era in five appearances while the other two UT Arlington pitchers have posted era's north of 9.0.

Game One: Live Stats     Game Two: Live Stats

Scouting North Texas

The Mean Green went 3-2 at the UNCW Tournament over the weekend and are 7-7 on the season. Kelli Schkade, a First Team All-Conference USA selection in 2016, is off to another hot start, hitting .380  through the first 14 games. Freshman Lacy Gregory is batting .356 with a team-high two home runs. The rest of the North Texas lineup has struggled as the Mean Green are hitting .248 as a team and averaging just 3.2 runs per game. Stacey Underwood has logged four complete games in six starts and is 4-3 with a 3.26 era. 

Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) Lands on Baylor All-Tournament Team

Sophomore Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) was the lone representative to be named to the Baylor Invite All-Tournament Team after going 5-for-15 (.333) with three doubles, a home run, and team-high six rbi in five games. McKee started the week fast, tying her career-high with four rbi in a loss to SIU-Edwardsville. She ended it on an even higher note, hitting a walk-off single to complete a four-run comeback and give Saint Francis a 5-4 win over UMass. 

Hitting With Runners In Scoring Position

The Saint Francis offense was opportunistic over its five games at the Baylor Invite, scoring 20 runs on 21 hits. The Red Flash reached base via a walk or HBP 26 times and capitalized by coming through with runners in scoring position. Saint Francis hit .333 with runners in scoring position compared to .150 with the bases empty. Junior Jordan Seneca (Plum, Pa./Plum) was 3-for-3 with runners in scoring position and Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) was 3-for-6.

Don't Forget About the Other Sister

While Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) earned All-Tournament honors for her tremendous week at the Baylor Invite, twin sister Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) continues to put together a fantastic sophomore campaign. Cheyenne leads Saint Francis in hitting with a .381 batting average and team-high 16 hits. She also leads Saint Francis in triples (3), on-base percentage (.509) and is second in total bases (28) and slugging pct. (.667).