LORETTO, PA- Saint Francis opens its home softball slate on Saturday, welcoming in in-state and Northeast Conference rival Robert Morris for a double header starting at one. It will be a quick turnaround for the Red Flash as they head to the Mount for a Sunday twin bill with the Mountaineers starting at two.
 
PRE-GAME CEREMONIES
Prior to the twin bill, the Red Flash will hold a dedication ceremony for the Mikayla Focht batting cage starting at noon. Focht, a star at nearby Holidaysburg Area High School, was killed in an ATV accident during her senior year of high school, and had signed a letter of intent to play at Saint Francis. 
 
The Red Flash will also unveil their 2018 Northeast Conference tournament and regular season title banners after the ceremonial first pitches. Saint Francis also plans to recognize seniors Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) as well as Cheyenne and Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) for their record-breaking accomplishments this season.
 
 
ABOUT THE RED FLASH
The Red Flash come into the weekend at 15-21 overall on the season but more importantly, 3-1 in Northeast Conference play. The bats have been impressive all season, but especially in the past four games where they have averaged 12 runs a contest, going 3-1 against Central Connecticut and Penn State.
 
CLUTCH CLARK

The pitching was stellar in the opening conference weekend as Christina Clark (Avon, Ohio/Avon High School) captured both the pitcher and rookie of the week awards from the conference. Clark went 2-0 with a save, allowing just two runs over 15 and two-thirds innings.
 
SIZZLING SABAN
In game two of the double header against Penn State, sophomore MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) became the first Saint Francis player since Katie McMellen did it against UMBC in 2011. Saban ended her stellar evening a triple shy of the cycle, drove in five and cracked her first career home run in the fifth inning. The sophomore leads the Red Flash and the Northeast conference in runs scored with 40 and in doubles with 11.

MAGNIFICENT McKEES
Twin sisters Cheyenne and Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) have enjoyed remarkable senior seasons to date. Two weeks after Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) was named Player of the Week after a five-RBI day against #19 Indiana, it was Cheyenne's turn to enter the spotlight. Cheyenne drove in six runs in a 12-1 win over CCSU and closed the opening weekend of NEC play with 11 RBI in four games to earn Player of the Week honors in the NEC. The sisters, who have had remarkably similar careers are fourth and fifth in the NEC in hits with 38 and 37, respectfully as well as second and third in RBI with 40 and 31, respectfully.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
ROBERT MORRIS
The Colonials come into Saturday at 9-24 on the season and 2-2 in Northeast Conference play. RMU swept Central Connecticut and got swept by Bryant in the opening weekend of conference.
 
Offensively, the Colonials are hitting just 210 as a team, a mark that only improved slightly (220) over the opening weekend of conference and average about three runs a game. Abrielle McCartney leads the team with 29 hits, a .299 average, 17 runs scored and six steals. The power has been supplied by Natalie Higgins who has five homers and a team-best 15 RBI.
 
Laura Coulter leads the pitching staff, picking up a win over CCSU. Coulter appeared in three games including one start and she posted an impressive 10:0 strike out-to-walk ratio. For the season, Coulter is second in appearances and starts, splitting time with Dana Vatakis, who owns a team-best 4.28 ERA.  
 
MOUNT ST. MARY'S
The Mountaineers enter the weekend at 14-19 overall and 1-3 in NEC play after splitting at Wagner and getting swept at Sacred Heart. Mount will play host to Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday before hosting Saint Francis on Sunday.
 
The Mountaineers bring a strong offense into the weekend, averaging over five runs a game. Shelbee Holcomb leads the squad with a 470 average and 39 hits in 30 games. Morgan Alisauckas and Lindsay Heinze have taken care of the power with Alisauckas leading the way with 25 RBI and Heinze blasting eight homers.
 
Katie Olson leads the team in the circle with a 2.33 ERA and threw seven shutout innings in two appearances last weekend.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Saturday's games against Robert Morris will be stream on NEC Front Row with Matt Popelka on the call. All four games this weekend will have live stats provided; all the links can be found on the softball schedule page.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Flash return home for a three-day, six-game homestand next week. It all gets started on Tuesday, April 9^th as the Red Flash host Pitt for a Military Day double header starting at 2 p.m.