Chattanooga, Tenn. - The Saint Francis softball team beat Miami (Ohio) 6-4 in thrilling fashion but dropped a 5-0 decision to Saint Louis on day two of the Frost Classic.
Game One Recap
Both pitchers made short work of opposing batters in the opening stanzas. Rachel Marsden (Erie, Pa./McDowell) started in the circle for Saint Francis and shut down the Redhawks collecting eight strikeouts for the game as she matched the Miami (Ohio) pitcher blow for blow.
In the bottom of the third inning, a pair of errors led to a 2-0 Miami lead. A fielding error by Marsden was followed by a single. A fielding error by Tayven Rousseau (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) resulted in two Redhawks flying around the bases to score the early lead.
Saint Francis promptly countered in the top of the fourth inning. Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) singled, advanced to second on an error, and promptly stole third. Marsden was hit by a pitch. Halle Marion (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) doubled down the left field line to score two runs and tie the game.
Both pitchers recovered after the run scoring to keep the offenses suppressed until the SFU frame in the sixth inning. Allyn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin High School) hit a bomb to right center to give SFU the 3-2 advantage. Marsden kept the lead by obtaining two strikeouts and a sacrifice bunt.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Red Flash added three key insurance runs. Madeline Barnes (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) was hit by a pitch and Avery Nagle (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove Area) singled through the right side. Brittney Crawford (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan) sacrificed both runners. Mekenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) strolled to the plate and smashed a mammoth moonshot over the right center field fence for the 6-2 lead. Miami (Ohio) switched pitchers to obtain the final two outs but the Red Flash had the insurance runs.
The Redhawks died hard. A single and a grounder advanced the runner to second where another single scored her. A third single scored another run to cut the deficit to 6-4 but Marsden obtained a grounder to third, Saban collected it, and threw to Bezjak for the out. SFU had its fourth win of the season.
Game Two Recap
Neither team scored in the first 1 ½ innings as Saint Francis netted two singles but each hit came with two outs. Christina Clark (Avon, Ohio/Avon High School) started in the circle for the Red Flash and obtained a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first.
Saint Louis broke through the opening run in the second inning. A double and a single scored the first Billiken run. A popup to Rousseau at short was small consolation.
The Red Flash had two baserunners in the top of the third inning after Barnes and Frank singled but a fielder's choice by Rousseau with two outs eliminated the chance. In the bottom of the third inning, Saint Louis padded their lead to 2-0 with a solo home run
In the fourth inning, Bezjak led off with a single but three straight outs left her stranded. Meadow Uncapher (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant High School) took the circle at the start of the fourth inning. The leadoff hitter walked, a hit by pitch followed a pop-up, and a pinch hitter clubbed a double. The hitter was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple but two Billikens scored for the 4-0 lead. Grace Vesco ( Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) was inserted in relief and promptly got the final out.
SFU had the chance to response in the top of the fifth inning. Barnes led off with a walk and Crawford reached on an error. But two fielder's choices and a grounder ended the threat.
Neither team scored until Saint Louis in the bottom of the sixth inning. The leadoff hitter reached on an error followed by a single, another single followed to load the bases. A fielder's choice at home prevented a run scoring but the following play witnessed a throwing error by the shortstop to score a run. Vesco kept calm and recorded two more out to end the inning.
Saint Francis attempted to rally but a three and out prevented any chance of a comeback.
Up Next
SFU concludes the Frost Classic tomorrow with a 11:00am game against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
