ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Saint Francis softball team (4-1) used two eighth-inning home runs to beat Syracuse (2-3) by a 6-3 margin in eight innings on Friday.
 
THOUGHTS
Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell: "What a win against a great team! Syracuse is a resilient and very respectable team. Grace Vesco pitched a masterpiece and our offense came alive at just the right time. I'm also very proud of Coach AnnaMarie Gatti. She's been working extremely hard with our pitching staff and has stepped up to help me with the offense and defense as well, not to mention she is an alumna of Syracuse, so this was a great win for her and our program."

Senior Tayven Rousseau: "I just went in with confidence. I knew our team would have Grace's back and we would come through on the hitting aspect."
 

Saint Francis 6, Syracuse 3 (8 inn.)
Records: Saint Francis (4-1), Syracuse (2-3)
Location: Eagle Field (Rock Hill, S.C.)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Grace Vesco pitched the complete game for Saint Francis, giving up only two earned runs on four hits while striking out nine batters.

Mekenzie Saban led off the game with a double in the top of the first but was stranded at second to end the inning. The Red Flash had a baserunner each of the first three innings as Jordan Frank and Jordan Pietrzykoski each drew a walk.

Syracuse scored first, a single run in the bottom of the third. An infield single gave the Orange its first baserunner of the game and the runner advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Syracuse scored on a second infield single.

The score remained 1-0 until the Red Flash took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth on a two-run home run from the bat of Tayven Rousseau.

Syracuse tied the game at two runs aside in the bottom of the sixth. The Orange hit a lead-off double and advanced the runner to third on a sacrifice bunt. The game was tied on a ground out.

The teams were tied at two at the end of seven innings as the Red Flash went to extra innings for the first time this season.

Home runs by Lindsay Ward and Rousseau in the top of the eighth scored four runs for Saint Francis as the Red Flash held a 6-2 lead in the middle of the eighth. The Orange scored once on a groundout but Vesco struck out the final two batters of the game to preserve the 6-3 win.

GAME NOTES

• This is Rousseau's first career game with more than one home run. She has three on the season.
• This is Rousseau's fourth game of the season with at least two RBI and her third-straight multi-hit game.
• Ward has two home runs this season.
• Frank extended her hit-streak to four games.
• Vesco improved to 3-0 this season.

UP NEXT
The rest of Friday's games have been canceled due to inclement weather. Schedule updates for the remainder of the weekend will be announced as they become available.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.