TUSCALOOSA, AL- Michigan State rallied to score eight unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings to spoil a strong Christina Clark (Avon, Ohio/Avon High School) pitching performance and a five-double offensive effort in an 8-2 setback at the Easton Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama. 

Saint Francis scored first, notching an unearned run in the top of the first frame. MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) started the game off with a double and came around to score after Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) reached on an error. Clark would work around a pair of walks in the bottom half, striking out a pair to leave the bases loaded in the bottom half of the first. 

Both teams would leave runners in scoring position over the next two innings, leaving the score 1-0 in favor of the Red Flash. SFU would double the lead in the fourth inning after Tayven Rousseau (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) doubled home Brittney Crawford (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan), who had singled to start the inning. Saint Francis would strand a pair in scoring position in the inning, leaving it 2-0 Red Flash after four innings. 

Clark threw four scoreless innings to start the contest but an error and a home run in the fifth inning started the Spartan rally. In the sixth inning, a lead-off home run snuck inside the right field foul pole and the Spartans got to Clark and Lauren Bertig (Indiana, Pa./Indiana High School), breaking the game open with a six-run frame. 

Saint Francis pounded out 11 hits, including five doubles but left 10 on base. Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois), Brittany Crawford and Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) all enjoyed two-hit games in the setback. 

The loss drops Saint Francis to 8-9 on the season while Michigan State improves to 5-11. The Red Flash have two more games in Tuscaloosa, taking on the host Crimson Tide on Saturday afternoon and a rematch with Southern Miss on Sunday.