Flash Points:

• The No. 20 SFU Softball team opens its 2018 campaign this weekend at the Kickin' Chickin Classic, hosted by Coastal Carolina.
• The Red Flash is scheduled to play five games, opening with contests against Presbyterian (9:30 a.m.) and Iowa State (2:30 p.m.) on Friday.
• Saint Francis' Sunday matchup vs. Coastal Carolina will be live streamed on goCCUsports.com.

Live Stats:
Friday Game 1 | Game 2
Saturday Game 1 | Game 2
Sunday Stats | Video

Game Notes
 
LORETTO, Pa. – The No. 20 Saint Francis Softball team is set to begin the 2018 season on Friday at the Kickin' Chickin Classic, hosted by Coastal Carolina.  The Red Flash will battle Presbyterian (9:30 a.m.) and Iowa State (2:30 p.m.) on Friday, Presbyterian (12 p.m.) and UNC Greensboro (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday and Coastal Carolina (12 p.m.) on Sunday.  SFU's game on Sunday will be live streamed on goCCUsports.com.
 
The Red Flash, led by Head Coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift, begins the 2018 season with big goals after going 49-11 last season.  SFU set a program and NEC record for wins, while also going 19-0 against NEC opponents to win its first ever NEC Title.  The Red Flash made its first ever NCAA Regional appearance and earned the program and SFU Athletics' first NCAA Tournament win.
 
PRESEASON POLLS
Saint Francis received attention from preseason polls leading up to opening weekend.  The Red Flash was ranked No. 20 in the Fastpitch News Top 25.  SFU was the third-highest non-Power 5 team in the poll, just behind Florida International and BYU.  This marks the first time SFU has been ranked in a preseason poll.
 
Saint Francis also received seven votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.  SFU received 10 votes in the final USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll in 2017 and was ranked 25th in the HERO Sports Poll.
 
The Red Flash was unanimously voted No. 1 in the Preseason NEC Poll, as the league's coaches expect SFU to repeat as NEC Champions.
 
CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The Red Flash is set to take on a very challenging non-conference slate.  SFU is scheduled to play 16 games against Power 5 programs and 12 against teams who played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.  Saint Francis will face four teams currently ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll: No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 13 Auburn, No. 20 Tulsa and No. 24 Oklahoma State.  SFU will also face Arkansas and Marshall, who are both receiving votes.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
Saint Francis returns 12 players from last year's roster, including six All-NEC selections.  SFU welcomes back three First Team All-NEC selections: senior first baseman Madison Cabell (Ivor, Va./Southampton), junior outfielder Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) and senior shortstop Jordan Seneca (Plum, Pa./Plum).  SFU also returns three Second Team All-NEC picks: junior second baseman Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois), junior outfielder Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) and junior third baseman Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry).  Seneca and sophomore pitcher Abby Trahan (Kaplan, La./Kaplan), the reigning NEC Rookie of the Year, were NFCA All-Region selections
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Presbyterian went 18-32 last season as the Blue Hose averaged 3.1 runs per game.  Junior Megan Anderson returns after batting .278 with five homers and 22 RBI last season.  Presbyterian had a team ERA of 4.08 last year, with senior Alex Cook leading the team with a 3.00 ERA.
 
Iowa State was 23-35 last year.  The Cyclones return NFCA All-Region hitters Sami Williams, who batted .363 with eight homers and 31 RBI, and Kelsey McFarland, who hit .345 with four homers and 25 RBI, after averaging 3.6 runs per contest in 2017.  ISU had a 3.96 team ERA last season, led by junior Emma Hylen, who posted a 3.48 ERA.
 
UNC Greensboro went 29-24 last season and finished second in the Southern Conference.  The Spartans return NFCA All-Region second baseman Jasmine Palmer, who batted .301 with seven homers and 19 RBI last season.  UNCG averaged 5.0 runs per game in 2017 and posted a team ERA of 4.01.  Senior Alicia Bazonski went 19-15 with a 3.32 ERA last year.
 
Coastal Carolina was 32-23 last year, averaging 3.8 runs per game. Senior outfielder Kailey Mellen batted .319 with seven homers and 37 RBI.  The Chanticleers had a team ERA of 2.81 in 2017, led by junior Ashley Guillette's 2.48 ERA.