TUSCALOOSA, Al. The Saint Francis softball team (8-10) gave No. 5 Alabama all the Crimson Tide could handle in a narrow 3-1 defeat at the Easton Crimson Classic. The Red Flash battled on even terms for the entire game with the exception of one fatal half inning.
 
The Red Flash threatened early when MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) and Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) hit back-to-back singles but Alabama was not highly ranked because of their color scheme and the Crimson Tide pitcher worked to escape the danger without yielding a run.
 
Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) started in the circle for Saint Francis and retired the Tide batters in the corresponding first inning frame in perfect 1-2-3 order on two grounders and a foul out.
 
In the top of the second inning, the Red Flash hit three sharp grounders that all found crimson gloves. Alabama's Wallace had a single and a stolen base but Bower wiped out her presence with a key fly out.
 
SFU, in the top of the third inning, went down in order as the bats were unable to generate any electricity. Alabama had a batter reach on a fielding error but another huge two-out stop prevented any runs.
 
The fourth inning witnessed both teams going down 1-2-3 as both pitchers had complete control over the opposition.
 
The Red Flash had an opportunity in the fifth inning when Brittney Crawford (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan) reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. But Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) grounded out and Tayven Rousseau (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) flied out to end the half inning which left Crawford at second.
 
Alabama broke the deadlock with a manufactured run. With one out, Clark walked and Morgan was plucked by a pitch. Bower generated a massive strikeout of Hardy for out number two. Sides singled a scorcher that barely got by Cheyenne McKee's (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) glove for the icebreaking run. Tow grounded out to the first baseman but the deficit was established.
 
The Red Flash battled back with fervor. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) utilized her proven tactic of getting hit by a pitch. Norton slapped a single through the right side. Bower advanced McKee to third base. This set the stage for Miss Clutch herself: Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois). Sierra promptly brought her sister home with a slashing single down the left field line to tie it up.
 
Unfortunately, the softball gods ruled in favor of Alabama. After a first out pop out, Schroder homered to center field. Dykes grounded out to third baseman and it appeared that the Red Flash would limit the damage to one run. Wallace's resulting home run reverted that thinking. Clark's fly out was small consolation as Alabama regained the lead, 3-1.
 
Saint Francis, in the typical Fighting Frankies spirit, did not go gentle into that good night. With two outs, Rousseau doubled into the left field gap and the Red Flash had the tying run on the bases. Saban almost connected on a pitch but just missed by the slimmest of swings and the Crimson Tide escaped.
 
Norton is Silver
 
Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) had two hits in today's games, which now gives her 198 hits in her career. She has passed Taylor Parsons for second all-time on the hit list and is now four hits away from tying teammate Madison Cabell (Ivor, Va./Southampton) for first all-time.
 
Up Next
 
 The Red Flash have one final game at the Easton Crimson Classic tomorrow as they rematch against Southern Miss. Live Stats and in-game updates will be provided.