BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Saint Francis softball team (11-6) wrapped up the weekend at Gardner-Webb with a 3-2 loss in eight innings against Toledo (9-6) and a 9-1 win against Gardner-Webb (1-7). The Red Flash offense scored eight runs in the final three innings against Gardner-Webb to earn the victory after the game was tied at one entering the fifth inning.
 

THOUGHTS
Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell: "I love that our pitchers are keeping us in every game. Both Grace and Rachel were locked in this weekend and emptied their tanks. That's all we can ask from the circle, but offensively we need to do a better job of scoring our baserunners and limiting the damage on defense. I appreciated how our team came back on Saturday and Sunday after close losses, but we need to continue to play together as a team and pick each other up."

Senior infielder Mekenzie Saban: "The energy from the dugout and the drive to be the person to break open the game fueled the offensive stride [against Gardner-Webb]. As a leader, I just tried to help our team stay composed and take advantage of every opportunity."
 

GAME ONE
Saint Francis 2, Toledo 3 (8 inn.)
Records: Saint Francis (10-6), Toledo (9-6)
Location: Brinkley Stadium (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Grace Vesco pitched the complete game for the Red Flash. She gave up no earned runs on six hits and recorded six strikeouts.

The Red Flash left the bases loaded in the top of the second. Lexi Hernandez got the first hit of the game for either team, a lead-off single. Allyn Bezjak was hit by a pitch and Tayven Rousseau singled but back-to-back defensive plays ended the inning.

Madeline Barnes caught a runner stealing in the third inning and picked off a runner in the fourth inning to clear the bases each time.

Saint Francis got onto the scoreboard first, breaking the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning with a pair of runs. Jordan Frank hit a lead-off single and advanced to second as Mekenzie Saban drew a walk. Jordan Pietrzykoski loaded the bases with a single. Lindsay Ward scored both runs on an outfield single. Hernandez got her second hit of the game to load the bases with one out but two-straight defensive plays ended the SFU threat.

Toledo tied the game at two in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of unearned runs after a lead-off single.

Because of the international tie breaker rule, a runner was placed on second. Saint Francis advanced the runner to third with a sacrifice bunt. The Red Flash appeared to score on a pop up, but it was ruled batter's interference to end the inning.

Toledo won the game on an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.

GAME NOTES

• Hernandez tallied her third multi-hit game in a row.
• This is the sixth multi-hit game of the season for both Rousseau and Pietrzykoski.
• This is Frank's first multi-hit game of the season.

 
GAME TWO
Saint Francis 9, Gardner-Webb 1
Records: Saint Francis (11-6), Gardner-Webb (1-7)
Location: Brinkley Stadium (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rachel Marsden pitched the complete game for the Red Flash. Marsden allowed no earned runs and only two hits while striking out six.

Saban had the first hit of the game for either team in the top of the third, leading off with a single. Pietrzykoski and Ward were each hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bezjak got Saint Francis on the board first with an infield sacrifice fly to score Saban from third.

Gardner-Webb responded to tie the game in the bottom of the third with a run scored on a throwing error.

The score remained tied at one until the top of the fifth inning when Saint Francis took a 3-1 lead. Saban hit her second single of the game to lead off. Pietrzykoski singled and Ward drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Ashley Orischak drew a walk to walk in a run and force a Gardner-Webb pitching change. Bezjak also drew a walk to increase SFU's lead to 3-1 but the bases were loaded to end the inning.

The Red Flash increased its lead to 4-1 in the top of the sixth. Brittney Crawford drew the lead-off walk and advanced to second on a single from Saban. Pietrzykoski drove in the run with an RBI single.

The Saint Francis offense put together a big seventh inning, scoring five runs to extend the lead to 9-1. Frank, Crawford and Saban all singled with Saban's driving in the first run of the inning. Crawford scored on a ground ball from Pietrzykoski after advancing to third on a wild pitch. Ward and Orischak were both hit by a pitch to load the bases with on two outs. Saban scored on a passed ball that saw all runners advance. Bezjak drove in the Red Flash's final two runs with a single to center field.

GAME NOTES

• This is Saban's seventh multi-hit game of the season as she finished the game with a season-high four hits.
• This is Pietrzykoski's seventh multi-hit game of the season and second of the day.
• Bezjak totaled a season-high three RBI for her second multi-RBI game of the season.
• Ward was hit by three pitches as she leads the team this season, being hit by nine pitches.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Francis opens conference play at home next weekend, hosting a series against Fairleigh Dickinson. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m., and another doubleheader on Sunday, beginning at noon. All games will be broadcast live on NEC Front Row.
 
Follow Saint Francis Softball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash program.
 
To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.