CONWAY, S.C. – The Saint Francis softball team opened the 2021 season with games against East Carolina and Coastal Carolina on Saturday at the Battle of the Beach. The Red Flash fell to East Carolina by a narrow 4-2 margin before beating Coastal Carolina 9-3 to wrap up opening day.
 
THOUGHTS
Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell: "There was so much excitement finally being able to play games again. We are just filled with so much gratitude to have the opportunity to compete and represent Saint Francis. I'm so proud of this team. This was 100% a team win."

Junior infielder Lindsay Ward: "I thought it was a really great team win. Great feeling coming out of the Covid delay. We've been working hard for this moment since our seasons ended a year ago. We're excited to keep this going."
 
GAME ONE
Saint Francis 2, East Carolina 4
Records: Saint Francis (0-1), East Carolina (4-0)
Location: St. John Stadium (Conway, S.C.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rachel Marsden pitched the complete game in the circle for the Red Flash, giving up four unearned runs on five hits. Marsden struck out one batter.

The Pirates struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning. The lead-off batter reached base on an error and scored on a fielder's choice.

Brittney Crawford got the first hit of the season, a single in the top of the third, but a double play ended the inning and any threat on the bases.

Jordan Pietrzykoski got on base in the fourth inning with a one-out walk and advanced to second on a single from Ward. The inning ended with back-to-back field plays by the Pirates and the Red Flash remained scoreless.

In the bottom of the fourth, Pietrzykoski made a diving catch with one out and runners on the corners to prevent the Pirates from building on the lead.

Sydney Baker led off the fifth inning with a hit by pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jordan Frank. The inning ended when a ground ball hit Baker as she ran to third.

Pietrzykoski drew her second walk of the game with one out in the sixth inning. Ward followed with a walk and the Red Flash had runners on first and second with one out. Both runners advanced on a fielder's choice. Tayven Rousseau gave the Red Flash a 2-1 lead with a two-out single that scored Pietrzykoski and Ward.

The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning on a hit by pitch, error and single. ECU scored three runs on a fielder's choice, sacrifice fly and single to take a 4-2 lead going into the seventh inning. All runs were unearned.

ECU ended the game with three-straight defensive plays in the top of the seventh.

GAME NOTES

• Rousseau brought in both of the Red Flash runs in the sixth inning with a two-out single.
• Crawford and Ward also each had a single.
• Pietrzykoski and Ward both reached base twice to lead Saint Francis.

 
GAME TWO
Saint Francis 9, Coastal Carolina 3
Records: Saint Francis (1-1), Coastal Carolina (1-1)
Location: St. John Stadium (Conway, S.C.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Grace Vesco pitched the complete game in the circle for the Red Flash. Vesco surrendered two earned runs on four hits while striking out six.

Ward hit a single, her second of the day, with two down in the top of the first inning for the first hit of the game. Rousseau was hit by a pitch and both advanced on a passed ball but were stranded at second and third to end the inning.

Coastal Carolina tallied the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the first. The Chanticleers loaded the bases with a single, fielder's choice and walk. A ground out and sacrifice fly each scored a run before the SFU defense ended the inning.

Vesco and the SFU defense retired Coastal Carolina in order in the second with Vesco registering two strikeouts.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth when the Chanticleers hit a solo home run to increase the lead to 3-0.

The Red Flash scored eight runs in the top of the sixth to take an 8-3 lead. Pietrzykoski led off with a walk, advanced to second on a single from Ward and advanced to third on a fly ball from Rousseau. Baker brought Pietrzykoski home with a single and then stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. Frank walked to load the bases. Allyn Bezjak brought in two runs with a single. After switching pitchers for the second time in the inning, Coastal Carolina made a fielding error that allowed two more SFU runs to score. Mekenzie Saban was hit by a pitch and Pietrzykoski drew a second walk to load the bases before a second single in the inning for Ward scored two runs. The final two runs of the inning were scored off the bat of Rousseau with a single.

SFU increased its lead to 9-3 with a run in the seventh inning. Crawford drew a one-out walk and scored on a single from Avery Nagle, who came into the game to pinch hit.

GAME NOTES

• Frank had the first extra-base hit of the season for the Red Flash, leading off the second with a double.
• Ward and Baker each tallied a multi-hit game.
• Ward had a hit and a walk in each game on Saturday. She finished the CCU game a perfect 3-of-3 with a walk, an RBI, a run and a stolen base.
• Baker finished the Coastal Carolina game 2-of-3 at the plate with a run, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base.
• Rousseau, Bezjak and Crawford each totaled two RBI's to lead the team.
• Pietrzykoski drew two walks in each game on Saturday, totaling four walks. Her two walks in the Coastal Carolina game both came in the sixth inning.
• This is Rousseau's second multi-RBI game of the day.

 
UP NEXT
The Red Flash wraps up play at the Battle at the Beach on Sunday with a doubleheader against Buffalo. First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.