SFU GAME NOTES | ALABAMA TOURNEY PAGE | @REDFLASHSB

TUSCALOOSA, AL- Saint Francis begins their Spring Break trek across the southeast this weekend, as they travel to Alabama to participate in the Easton Crimson Classic.
 
The Red Flash will take on Southern Mississippi and Michigan State twice and the sixth-ranked Crimson Tide once over the three-day event.
 
ABOUT THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis enters the Classic at 7-7 on the season after going 2-3 at the Gardner Webb Invite last weekend. The Red Flash offense kicked it into gear, scoring 16 times in a win over ETSU and a dozen in the win over Bowling Green.
 
SFU is averaging 6.5 runs per game so far this season, a mark good for 27^th in the NCAA. The offense has been balanced with six people recording at least 10 hits so far this season and three averaging better than a hit per game. Mekenzie Saban leads the team with 19 runs scored, placing her 17^th in the NCAA.
 
In the circle, Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) picked up the two wins last weekend and leads the team in victories. Freshman Meadow Uncapher (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant High School) saw her scoreless streak end but leads the Red Flash with a 2.55 earned run average.
 
NORTON, You're (Almost) The Greatest
Senior outfielder Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) obliterated opposing pitching, going 10-for-16 with three home runs, 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored, earning her second NEC Player of the Week for her efforts. Norton is on the brink of a pair of Red Flash records. She moved into a tie for second on SFU's all-time hits list (196), and is one home run shy of tying the Jordan Seneca's record of 48 round trippers. She currently sits 13^th in the NCAA with a .568 average and is second in the Nation with 49 total bases through 14 games.
 
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
 
 
SOUTHERN MISS
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend at 8-5 on the season. They were picked ninth in the Conference USA pre-season poll. Catcher Samanta Papp was named a pre-season all-conference player. The offense is a balanced one, averaging closer to six runs per game and has five players averaging a hit per game so far this season. The headlines will be taken by pitcher Abby Trahan (Kaplan, La./Kaplan) who transferred to Southern Miss after two seasons in Loretto. She is part of a Golden Eagle staff that has thrown to a 2.12 team earned run average. Bailie Springfield shutout Southern her last time out and is 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA.
 
MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans come into Tuscaloosa at 3-10 on the season and are losers of nine straight. The Echols sisters pace the offense with younger sister Charla leading the team with a 400 average and older sister Ebonee leading the team in home runs. Five Spartans have over a .300 average to date heading into the weekend. Jordan Watson leads the pitching staff with a 1-2 record but a strong 2.94 earned run average.
 
ALABAMA
#6 Alabama has had little trouble with their early-season slate, running off 16-straight wins to start the season and rising to #6 in the USA Today Top-25. Bailey
Hemphill and Kaylee Tow are living up to their pre-season accolades as All-NEC selections. Hemphill leads the Tide with 25 RBI while Tow is hitting .359 with 20
runs scored. In the circle, Alabama is sporting a 1.75 team ERA with seven shutouts. Leading the way is Montan Fouts who is 6-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 39 innings against just three walks.
 
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Alabama will provide stats for all of the games this weekend via Side Arm Stats. The game's against Michigan State can be watched on the Spartan's Facebook Live channel and the Alabama game will be on SEC Network Plus. We also encourage you to follow us on Twitter @RedFlashSB. The links for stats and to watch are available on the softball schedule page. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Flash head to Orlando for a massive multi-venue tournament hosted by South Florida. Saint Francis will not meet up with the host Bulls but will play Villanova, South Dakota State, Providence, Western Michigan and Army next weekend.