BROOKLYN, N.Y.-  The Saint Francis softball team won a commanding 7-0 victory over Sacred Heart on the first day of the NEC Tournament. Cheyenne McKee's (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) two-run homer keyed the impressive victory.

Recap

Saint Francis was retired in order to start the game as two fly balls were tracked down and a strikeout was induced.

Christina Clark (Avon, Ohio/Avon High School) started in the circle for the Red Flash. She yielded two walks in the opening frame but through careful pitching, she escaped the jam.

In the top of the second inning, Saint Francis made contact but the hit balls found gloves and a strikeout ended the half inning.

Clark continued her strong start in the bottom of the second inning. Outside of a fortunate, half-swing infield single, she shut down the Pioneers.

Tayven Rousseau (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) drew a walk in the top of the third inning with two outs but she was left stranded by a groundout.

Sacred Heart managed a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second but Clark recorded two straight strikeouts to render the runner null and void to the delight of the Red Flash contingent.

Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) was hit by a pitch to start the fourth frame and promptly stole second to place herself in scoring position. Unfortunately, the big hit did not fall in and McKee was left at second.

Sacred Heart worked Clark for a walk but the freshman hurler kept her composure and kept SHU off the scoreboard.

The Saint Francis offense, in the top of the fifth inning, struck for four runs. Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) started the inning with a hit by pitch and Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) singled to send her to third. Allyn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin High School) continuing her strong play down the stretch hit a sacrifice fly to score Bower. Troxell advanced to third on the play and Rousseau hit a fly out to the wall to score her. Mekenzie Saban was hit by a pitch and Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) launched a rocket over the left center field wall to give SFU a 4-0 lead.

Clark, reinforced by the support, promptly retired Sacred Heart to keep the Pioneers scoreless.

Saint Francis added on three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Two fielding errors gave the Red Flash a golden opportunity and the SFU hitters converted. Troxell lined a double down the line to score two runs. Rousseau sneaked a single through the left side to score the seventh run. Saban absolutely murdered a ball but the softball gods are fickle and the sphere found leather to conclude the inning.

Sacred Heart threatened to break the deadlock with a double and a reach by error but Troxell collared a dying line drive to prevent any runs from scoring.

Saint Francis tried to obtain some insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning but to no avail.

Meadow Uncapher (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant High School) was called upon to close out the game and the freshman hurler delivered masterfully. A successful bunt for hit was washed away by a double play by Troxell to Bezjak on a line drive to win the game.

Up Next

Saint Francis play top seed and host LIU Brooklyn tomorrow at 11 am. If the Red Flash emerge victorious, Saint Francis will play Saturday for the chance to win the title. If SFU falls, the Red Flash will have to play a second game tomorrow.