Palo Alto, Calif.- The Red Flash won the first game 4-3 over Rhode Island but lost the second game 9-1 to Stanford.
Game One Recap
Saint Francis scored first using a Mekenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) single to start the momentum. She then advanced to third after Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) chopped the ball into the dirt. Frank was retired but Saban noticing that no Ram was covering third base promptly seized the neglected base. A passed ball during Tayven Rousseau's (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) at-bat allowed her to draw first blood. The Red Flash, for the first time in many games, had the early advantage.
Grace Vesco ( Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) started in the circle for the Red Flash and pitched a strong complete game striking out seven Rams and yielding only three hits. The freshman pitcher picked up her third win of the season.
Neither team scored again until the top of the fifth inning when a leadoff walk started a spark for Rhode Island. When URI attempted a sacrifice bunt, Saban scooped it up and threw to second to nab the lead runner but Rousseau dropped the ball to let both runners reach safety. A URI double punished the Red Flash for their transgression and gave the Rams a 2-1 lead.
Saint Francis responded in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) smashed a solo home run to tie the game at 2-2. Rousseau was hit by a pitch, Marsden doubled, and Bezjak reached on an error to load the bases. Halle Marion (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) chipped a bouncing grounder up the middle. The URI shortstop grabbed it, stepped on second for one out, and fired it to first. But the attempt was too late to oust Marion who hustled down the line. Rousseau scored and Marsden was aggressively sent by Coach Jessica O'Donnell to score a second run. When the dust cleared, the score was 4-2 SFU.
The Rams died hard. A leadoff walk once again started some excitement. A single followed and an error loaded the bases. With the bases juiced, the Red Flash got the first out on a fielder's choice at home. But a second single cut the lead to 4-3. But Vesco stayed strong striking out a Ram and inducing a slow grounder to Saban who threw to Bezjak for the third out and the SFU win.
Game Two Recap
The Red Flash gamely battled with the Cardinal but the Stanford bats proved more fruitful. Saint Francis had the early opportunity in the top of the first inning after Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) and Rousseau singled. But straight grounders ended the opportunity.
Rachel Marsden (Erie, Pa./McDowell) started in the circle for SFU and promptly obtained a 1-2-3 inning by inducing three groundouts.
Stanford opened up the scoring in the second inning. A single started the inning. Emily Nunez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Alta Loma ), at second base, then made two strong plays in the field. Saint Francis seemed out of the woods but the Cardinal rallied for a single and a double to take a 2-0 lead. A two-run homer made it 4-0 before the third out was obtained.
The Red Flash countered in the top of the third inning. Saban led off with a beautiful triple in the left field corner. Frank and Rousseau were unable to hit her in but Marsden helping her own cause singled in Saban to cut the lead to 4-1.
Stanford retaliated with two runs in their frame of the third. A single and a triple scored the fifth run and a second single made it 6-1.
Christina Clark (Avon, Ohio/Avon High School) entered the circle in the bottom of the fourth inning and quickly pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Despite a Saban single, the Red Flash could not drive her in.
Stanford ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Two straight singles and a walk loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly scored the first run. A looping single after Marsden at second base created an 8-1 deficit. The final run came on a slow roller to Clark. She threw it home and tag appeared to nab but the umpire disagreed and Stanford won.
Up Next
Pacific tomorrow at 12:30 and Stanford follows at 3:30pm make up the schedule for the day two of the Softball
