BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 Denton, Texas - After going without a run through the first 11 innings of the day, the Saint Francis bats came alive in a big way late in game two as the Red Flash scored 11 runs over the game's final two innings to win 11-2 and earn a split at North Texas on Wednesday.

Jennifer Patrick-Swift's Reaction

"We came out flat to start the day but played one of the most complete games of the year in the second game," said head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift. "I'm hoping the second game helps propel us to playing more consistently from here on out."

Game One

North Texas pitcher Stacey Underwood frustrated the Saint Francis hitters, holding the Red Flash to two hits in a complete game shutout. The Mean Green did all of its damage in the first two innings. Kelli Schkade led off the first with a homer to left. North Texas added a second run an inning later. With runners on first and third, the Mean Green put the runners in motion. Kindra Witthus (Hudson, Wis./Hudson)'s throw down to second snuck past junior Jordan Seneca (Plum, Pa./Plum) and trickled into center field to allow a runner to score. 

The Red Flash put its lead off hitters on base in each of the first three innings but couldn't capitalize, leaving eight runners on base for the game. 

The SFU offense threatened in the seventh inning when freshman Adrian Smith (Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) was hit by a pitch with one out and Witthus followed with a single. However, a strikeout and ground out to short ended the game.

Sophomore Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) registered the other Saint Francis hit with a single to right field. 

Starter Ethel Santai (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area) (4-1) was the tough-luck loser, throwing six innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits.

Game Two 

The Saint Francis bats came alive late in game two as the Red Flash scored 11 runs in its final two at-bats to earn a split for the day.

Senior Ketarah DeVries (Forreston, Ill./Forreston) matched North Texas starter Lauren Craine zero for zero until the Mean Green took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. A walk and SFU fielding error allowed two runners to reach base; both came around to score on a double to the gap. 

The Saint Francis offense broke its 15 inning scoreless streak with a two-out rally in the fifth. Witthus reached base when she was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a double by Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois). McKee was Saint Francis's most consistent hitter on the day with four hits in five at-bats.

Seneca tied the game in the next at-bat by fighting off a pitch into center for her team-best 18th rbi of the season. Sophomore Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) kept the rally going with a well-hit single to right to score Seneca and sophomore Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) followed with an rbi double down the left field line.

North Texas threatened in the bottom of the inning by putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out before DeVries buckled down and got two strikeouts, the second with the bases loaded, to escape the jam.

Saint Francis carried its momentum into the sixth inning. Junior Madison Cabell (Ivor, Va./Southampton) drew a walk and sophomore Kassidy Troxell followed with a single. McKenzie Burge (Osceola Mills, Pa./Phillipsburg-Osceola) laid down a bunt in the next at-bat that was fumbled. Everyone ended up safe to load the bases. Witthus, Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) and Seneca followed with rbi singles and then Norton blasted a three-run homer, her third of the season, to give Saint Francis a 10-2 lead. The final SFU run scored when Troxell reached via an error.

DeVries moved to 3-4 with the win, pitching all six innings and allowing two runs on four hits. 

Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two rbi, Norton finished 2-for-4 with the home run and four rbi, and Seneca recorded two hits and two rbi in four at-bats.

Up Next

Saint Francis wraps-up its 10 day trip at the UT Arlington Tournament from Mar. 3 - Mar. 5. The Red Flash open the tournament with games vs. Tulsa and UT Arlington on Friday.