Saint Francis University Athletics

Trahan Strikes Out 10 To Lead Softball In 1-0 Win Over Maryland

2/18/2018 12:23:00 PM

Paul Marboe

Flash Points:

• SFU Softball earned a 1-0 win over Maryland on Sunday to close out the Tiger Invitational.
• Sophomore Abby Trahan (Kaplan, La./Kaplan) fired seven shutout innings and recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts.
• Junior Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
• The Red Flash picked up its eighth win, and third shutout, against a Power Five program since 2015.
• Saint Francis improved to 5-5 and will travel to the ECU Pirate Clash next weekend.

AUBURN, Ala. – Sophomore Abby Trahan (Kaplan, La./Kaplan) struck out a career-high 10 batters to lead the Saint Francis Softball team to a 1-0 win over Maryland on Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field.  The Red Flash pushed across the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.  SFU improved to 5-5 overall, while Maryland dropped to 2-6.
 
The Red Flash earned its eighth win, and third shutout, over a Power Five team since 2015.  SFU has won its last two games against Maryland.
 
Sophomore Abby Trahan (Kaplan, La./Kaplan) made her sixth start of the season and threw seven shutout innings for her third win of the year.  Trahan struck out a career-best 10 hitters, while allowing just three hits and two walks.  The Louisiana native held the Terrapins without a hit for the first 3.1 innings, with the only baserunner reaching on a walk.  Trahan struck out six of the first 10 batters she faced, including three strikeouts in the second inning.  She also had two strikeouts in the fifth inning and recorded her 10th strikeout on the final out of the game.
 
Ryan Denhart started in the circle for the Terrapins, going six innings.  She gave up a run on four hits, while striking out four and walking three.
 
Saint Francis tallied four hits.  Junior Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) led the offense with two hits, including an RBI single for the go-ahead run in the sixth.  Junior Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) added a single and a run, while senior Madison Cabell (Ivor, Va./Southampton) contributed a single. 
 
Maryland had just three hits, with Brigette Nordberg collecting two, including a double in the fourth.  Mikayla Werahiko added a single.
 
The Red Flash took the lead in the bottom of the sixth.  Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) lined a 2-2 pitch to right center to leadoff the inning.  Two batters later, Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) drew a one-out walk to push McKee to second.  With two outs, Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) drove a 1-2 pitch to left for a single to allow McKee to cross the plate and give SFU a 1-0 lead.
 
Maryland got two runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth.  With one out, Brigette Nordberg hit a fly ball to center for a double.  On a grounder back to the pitcher, Nordberg beat out a throw to third as Jacqui Pascal reached on a fielder's choice.  After a popout to the catcher, pinch-runner Bailey Boyd stole second.  Trahan forced a flyout to left to end the inning.
 
The Red Flash threatened to score in the bottom of the fifth.  Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) sent a 2-2 pitch into left field for a single.  With two outs, Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) drew a walk to push pinch-runner Brittney Crawford (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan) to second.  However, a strikeout ended the inning.
 
The Red Flash is back on the road next weekend for the ECU Pirate Clash.  The tournament begins on Friday, February 23 with matchups against Canisius (10 a.m.) and East Carolina (5:30 p.m.).