Greenville, NC. - The Saint Francis softball team (5-4) concluded the ECU Pirate Clash with a 9-3 triumph over the Cleveland State Vikings.
The Red Flash attack was led by an onslaught of triples by MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and Brittney Crawford (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan). Other timely hits contributed to the offensive outpour.
Saint Francis started off the game with an inauspicious beginning. Saban, Bower, and Norton went down 1-2-3 on a fly out, grounder to the third baseman, and a groundout to the first baseman.
Christina Clark (Avon, Ohio/Avon High School) took the mound for the Red Flash. Cleveland State's leadoff hitter promptly went deep to draw a swift 1-0 advantage. Clark kept her composure and recorded three straight outs.
In the top of the second inning, SFU, once again, was retired in order. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) grounded out to the shortstop, Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) tapped a ball back to the pitcher, and Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) lined out to the shortstop.
The Vikings tried to initiate some two-out magic as Griffin doubled down the left field line. Clark emphatically slammed the door on that hope with a crucial swinging strikeout.
Saint Francis raced ahead in the top of the third inning to seize the advantage. Troxell singled to center field. Marion, then, hit a slow roller to the second baseman, the fielder grabbed the ball and attempted to tag Troxell. However, Troxell, in an excellent impersonation of Josh Harrison avoided the tag, and the panicked second baseman tossed the ball over her first baseman's head. Troxell ended up at third and Marion hugged second. Saban punished the Vikings for their sin by delivering a triple to left field. Troxell and Marion easily scored. Bower hit a sacrifice fly to score Saban and the Red Flash had a 3-1 lead.
Cleveland State struck back with a flurry of hits. Hysong doubled and Packish singled to set up runners at the corners. Ward capitalized with a double into right center scoring one run but the Vikings, like their namesakes at an abbey, were overcome with greed and overreached by sending Packish on a homeward mission. DuBois saved the Red Flash. A relay chain of Frank to Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) to Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) gunned down Packish at the plate for the second out. Ries fouled out to strand Ward on the bases. The score was 3-2 SFU.
Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) led off the fourth inning with a single. That hit tied her at fourth all-time with Nicole Bender for career hits at SFU. Following the record setter, Frank also singled. Crawford launched a triple into right center to score two runs. Troxell popped out and Marion grounded out but the lead was 5-2.
The Vikings scratched back enough to score a run in their frame of the inning. Bajusz doubled and Rose singled up the middle to score the leadoff hitter. A line out ended the inning and scoring at 5-3.
The Red Flash earned that run back in the top of the fifth inning. Saban led off with a triple over the center fielder's head. Norton walked and SFU had runners at the corners. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) had an apparent single but the umpires ruled that Norton left the base early. Thus, she was called out and McKee had to bat again. The new age adage of "ball don't lie" proved truthful as McKee slapped a single past the shortshop's glove to officially score Saban and give the Red Flash a 6-3 advantage. Additionally, the single gave Cheyenne sole possession of fourth place on the all-time career hits list.
Coach Jessica O'Donnell decided in a shrewd tactical decision to insert Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) into the pitching circle. The choice paid off in spades as Bower brought a surge of energy and quickly mowed down the Cleveland State batters.
Saint Francis added another run in the top of the sixth inning when Crawford tripled over the center fielder's head. Troxell lifted a fly ball to left center to score Crawford to make the lead 7-3.
Bower yielded a single in the bottom of the sixth inning but it was but a brief flare of hope for the Vikings. Two strikeouts and a grounder rendered the base hit virtually meaningless.
The Red Flash halted any hope of a Cleveland State comeback with two runs in their frame of the seventh inning. Saban walked, Bower singled up the middle, Saban and Bower executed a picture perfect double steal and Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) completed the small ball strategy with a sharp single that scored both baserunners.
The Vikings were rapidly dealt with in their final frame. A caught looking strikeout and two grounders finished off Cleveland State. The Red Flash had their fifth victory of the season.
Record Chasing
Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) is merely 15 hits away from tying Madison Cabell (Ivor, Va./Southampton) for first all-time in career hits.
