BOX SCORE Loretto, Pa. - The Saint Francis softball team (25-8) closed out a 4-0 week at the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Tournament hosted by Texas Tech University with a 4-1 win over East Carolina (15-13) behind a one-hitter from senior Ketarah DeVries (Forreston, Ill./Forreston).

Head Coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift's Reaction

"I am happy that we are starting to play our best ball as conference season approaches," said head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift. "We have a lot of goals left to conquer this season and we'll continue working daily to obtain those. Our non-conference schedule proved that when we play our game we have a chance to give anyone a run for their money."

Senior Ketarah DeVries (Forreston, Ill./Forreston) nearly equaled the no-hitter she threw against the Pirates on Feb. 17, holding East Carolina to just one hit. 

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first inning via two Saint Francis errors, a hit and a bases loaded walk. DeVries buckled down and escaped the inning with two strikeouts to leave the bases full.

Trailing 1-0, the Red Flash opened the third inning with three consecutive singles off the bats of senior Kindra Witthus (Hudson, Wis./Hudson), sophomore Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) and junior Jordan Seneca (Plum, Pa./Plum). Seneca's knock to right center scored Witthus from second to tie the game at 1-1 and was her 10th rbi of the week. Sophomore Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) gave Saint Francis a 2-1 lead two batters later with a single up the middle. 

Saint Francis would continue to apply the pressure in the fourth as it loaded the bases with no outs thanks to singles by senior Kelsie Marconi (Lowber, Pa./Yough) and sophomore McKenzie Burge (Osceola Mills, Pa./Phillipsburg-Osceola) and a walk to Witthus. However, the Red Flash came away with just one run on a fielder's choice off the bat of Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois).

Saint Francis increased its lead to 4-1 in the sixth on four walks. Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) earned her second rbi with a bases loaded walk.

DeVries didn't run into trouble again after the first inning, allowing just two runners to reach base over the final six innings. She struck out eight to move to 6-4 on the season. 

Saint Francis's eight hits were split between eight different players as the Red Flash left 11 on-base. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) reached base three times with a hit and two walks. 

The Red Flash close March winners of 13 straight. They have some time off before returning to the diamond on April 1 at Fairleigh Dickinson in their conference opener.