Statesboro, Ga- The Saint Francis Softball team split the two opening games of the season. The Red Flash defeated Savannah State 7-1 and fell to host Georgia Southern 6-5 in a tense fingernail-biting contest.

Head coach Jessica O'Donnell earned her first victory at Saint Francis with the 7-1 triumph.

Game 1

Freshman Meadow Uncapher (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant High School) threw seven strong scoreless innings and senior Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) blasted a three run bomb in the 7-1 victory against Savannah State. The freshman hurler, after overcoming some first inning jitters, settled down and threw a marvelous complete game.

She was opposed by Savannah State hurler Tanisha Williams who also went the distance but yielded seven runs to the fearsome Flash hitters.

The Red Flash opened the inaugural inning with a run courtesy of senior Hayley Norton's (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) single through the infield. Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) scored on the play after hitting a leadoff double.

Savannah State struck back in the bottom half of the inning capitalizing off Uncapher's throwing error to reach base, steal second and tie up the scoring at 1-1 on a double to right field.

The next four innings witnessed few legitimate threats by either team as both pitchers firmly kept the clamps down on the offense.

But that all changed in the sixth inning. Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois), as befitting a leadoff hitter, worked the pitcher for a walk and sophomore MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) smashed a double to set up Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) with a large opportunity. The senior did not disappoint as she nailed a three run shot after the wall to give the Red Flash the 4-1 advantage.

Saint Francis tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning to cement their lead. Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) led off with a home run. Allyn Bezjack pinch hit for Halle Marion (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) and tripled in her first collegiate at bat. Saban singled to center field to send the freshman home. Bower collected her fourth RBI of the game with a sac fly to drive in Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois).

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Uncapher walked two Tigers and allowed a double but timely defense and a cool demeanor by the freshman hurler ensured that the Tigers' cry was feeble and the game finished with the Red Flash still up 7-1. Coach Jessica O'Donnell had her first SFU victory along with Uncapher.

Game 2

In the nightcap, the Red Flash hitters shone brightly against the murky Georgia sky but the Eagles soared just a bit higher among the stars to hold on for a narrow 6-5 victory.

For the second time on Friday, the Red Flash struck first with Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) slamming a double to right field to score MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills). Later the Red Flash loaded the bases but Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) grounded hard to the first baseman who corralled the hot potato for the third out.

The pattern of repetition occurred again in the bottom half of the first inning with Georgia Southern scoring courtesy of back-to-back doubles. No further damage would occur as Bower gathered the final two outs.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the third frame when the Red Flash exploded for three runs. Bower cracked another double down the left field line. Norton capitalized with a trademark lightning bolt to left center. Quicker than a flash of lightning, the Red Flash were up 3-1 but the team was not done yet. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois), reigning NEC Player of the Year, doubled down the left field line. Frank sacrificed her to third base and Troxell completed the bases tour for McKee with a sharp single. The dust settled with a 4-1 SFU advantage.

Unfortunately, Georgia Southern, backed by the security of a friendly and home terrain, responded with an onslaught of runs. Freeman singled, Wilson walked, and Farrell tied the game on a three-run blast. Coleman added a solo shot to give the Eagles a 6-4 lead. Booth striking out to end the inning was a dry consolation prize.

The fourth inning witnessed no scoring as the Red Flash were not able to knock in Saban after her leadoff double. Like dominos, the Eagles went down 1-2-3.

Saint Francis did not drive in a run during the top of the fifth but the Eagles added a key insurance run in their half of the inning. Freeman singled to right field and Wilson doubled to drive in Freeman to make it 6-4.

The Red Flash hit back in the top of the sixth. In an excellent pattern, Saban started off with a leadoff double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Bower singled through the middle to score her. Norton singled, Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) flied out to deep left field, and Frank walked to load the base. Troxell's short grounder did not stray far away enough from the catcher to avoid the fielder's choice at home and Brittney Crawford's (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan) grounder almost avoided the strategically placed second baseman. The Red Flash remained down 6-5.

It stayed 6-5 as Bower blew through the Georgia Southern hitters using only nine pitches to go 1-2-3.

The top of the seventh provided a Willie McCovey moment for the Red Flash. With two outs, Saban reached third on two pitches. Bower worked the count as only a seasoned pro can to draw a walk. Norton watched four balls to load the bases. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) smacked the ball with perfect authority but a combination of great play and the ball's homing signal landed the sphere in the center fielder's glove to close out a comeback and seal the game as a 6-5 Georgia Southern victory.

Up Next

The Red Flash, in a quick turnaround, play at 9 am tomorrow against UT Martin. A 4:30 pm duel with Georgia Southern is also scheduled for Saturday.