Statesboro, Ga,- Saint Francis (3-2) wrapped up the Bash in the Boro with a momentous comeback over the Winthrop Eagles. Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) hit a ball to the foul territory in right field and MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) beat the throw to the plate to clinch a 3-2 start.

Like all great comeback stories, the heroes started the tale with a tough start. Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) received the start and ran into some early danger as the Eagles used two singles to set up a double steal that plated a run. The Red Flash appeared to escape the opening inning allotting only one run until a tough grounder scooted past Cheyenne McKee's (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) glove to grant Winthrop a 2-0 lead. 

Saint Francis went down in order 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first inning with a pop out, strikeout and ground out. 

Bower dominated the second inning shutting down the Eagles with a commanding performance. A strikeout highlighted the inning. 

In SFU's second inning turn, Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) was plucked in the head by a pitch. Brianna Walker (Walworth, N.Y./Gananda) took advantage of the situation by stroking a single, and Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) drove in Frank to put the Red Flash on the scoreboard. Halle Marion (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) grounded out to end the inning but the deficit was halved. 

Winthrop hit a leadoff double to start the third inning and with one out had a runner on third poised to score but Bower, in an underrated segment of the game, extinguished the threat by inducing a soft line out and a harmless grounder. 

The Red Flash threatened in the third inning when Bower and Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) respectively singled and doubled with one out. Unfortunately, the McKee twins were unable to capitalize and the third inning concluded with the same 3-1 tally. 

In the top of the fourth inning, Winthrop used two singles to set up runners at the corner. The Red Flash blunted the threat with a double play at the opportunity cost of letting a run score. Winthrop added two additional singles but that nascent danger was quickly stuffed out leaving the score at 3-1. However, Saint Francis could not take advantage of the chance in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Winthrop threatened again in the fifth inning the Eagles hit a double and reached on a fielding by Walker, Once again, Bower proved equal to the task as she used a fielder's choice and a ground out to escape the situation. 

After a fly out by Marion, the Eagles brought in their ace relief pitcher and she disposed of Saban and Bower in easy fashion. The situation looked discouraging despite Winthrop doing nothing of note in the top of the sixth inning. 

Like lightning, the Red Flash struck swiftly as Norton homered down the right field line. The bomb landed in the hitting cages far beyond the fence. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) chased the pitcher from the game with a home run over the left field wall. The pitching change did nothing to stem the Red Flash charge. Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) singled off the pitcher and Brianna Walker's (Walworth, N.Y./Gananda) double found the gap to score the DuBois outfielder. Two strikeouts followed but the Red Flash had a 4-3 lead heading into the seventh inning. 

Winthrop died hard. The leadoff hitter reached on a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The next batter struck out but the pitch escaped allowing the runner on second to reach third. A double to left field scored the tying run but the Red Flash prevented any deficit with two straight outs. 

The Red Flash were hungry for a walk-off win and it showed. Saban, the leadoff hitter, singled on the first pitch and Norton hit a sharp single down the first base line to advance the shortstop to third, Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) hit a towering fly ball that drifted into the spacious foul ground at the stadium and Winthrop right fielder chose to catch it. Coach Jessica O'Donnell using her tactical sense sent Saban sprinting for home. The throw was wide and the slide was purely superfluous but nevertheless thrilling. The SFU players eagerly celebrated their third win. 

Notes 

• Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) earned her first pitching win since 2017 when she defeated NC Central. 
• The Red Flash are outscoring opponents 17-1 in the sixth and seventh innings. Saint Francis finishes strong!
• Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) is hitting 7-8 (.875) with runners in scoring position. 

Up Next

The Red Flash head to the ECU Pirate Class next weekend to face Purdue, Cleveland State, and host ECU.