YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Saint Francis softball team (13-6) swept its doubleheader at Youngstown State on Saturday. The Red Flash won the first game by an 8-0 margin in five innings and then earned the 7-3 victory in the second game.
 
THOUGHTS (GAME ONE)
Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell: "We had some nice timely hitting and took advantage of the opportunities at the perfect time. Grace also pitched a great game and kept their hitters off balance. That's a great team win."

Sophomore pitcher Grace Vesco: "Today it was just big for me to get ahead on the batters and attack and trust my defense. It's always nice with us getting the lead first."
 
THOUGHTS (GAME TWO)
Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell: "The key to our performance was that we came out ready to play from the beginning. We challenged our team before the games to make this a conference environment and give it all we have for every play. I love that we are playing like a team heading into conference play."

Junior infielder Lindsay Ward: "Our lineup wasn't looking to do too much and kept it simple. We were able to produce in situational hitting. We trusted each other to get the job done."
 

GAME ONE
Saint Francis 8, Youngstown State 0 (5 inn.)
Records: Saint Francis (12-6), Youngstown State (8-5)
Location: YSU Softball Field (Youngstown, Ohio)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Grace Vesco pitched the complete-game shutout in the circle. Vesco gave up only two hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Tayven Rousseau got the first hit of the game for either team in the top of the second inning but the game remained scoreless until the top of the third inning. Jordan Frank drew the lead-off walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brittney Crawford and third on a fly ball. Mekenzie Saban brought in the run with an RBI single.

The Red Flash scored seven runs in the fifth to increase its lead to 8-0. SFU loaded the bases with one out on singles from Ashley Orischak, Crawford and Madeline Barnes before Youngstown State made a pitching change. Saban drew a walk to bring in a run. Lindsay Ward and Sydney Baker were each hit by a pitch to force in runs. Saban scored on a passed ball before a three-run home run from Rousseau capped scoring for the inning.

GAME NOTES

• This is the 10^th time this season Ward has been hit by a pitch.
• This is Rousseau's fourth home run of the season and seventh multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Vesco's fifth strikeout of the season.

 
GAME TWO
Saint Francis 7, Youngstown State 3
Records: Saint Francis (13-6), Youngstown State (8-6)
Location: YSU Softball Field (Youngstown, Ohio)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rachel Marsden started the game in the circle for the Red Flash. Marsden gave up no earned runs through five innings of work, giving up two hits and no walks while earning two strikeouts. Christina Clark entered the game as relief to begin the sixth inning and pitched the remaining two innings. Clark surrendered two runs on four hits.

The Red Flash got onto the scoreboard early with two runs in the top of the first. Saban drew a lead-off walk and stole second. Ward brought Saban home with a double. Saint Francis loaded the bases on walks drawn by Lexi Hernandez and Allyn Bezjak. Frank was hit by a pitch to force a run home but SFU left the bases loaded to end the inning.

Youngstown State scored its first run of the day on a passed ball in the bottom of the first to cut the Red Flash's lead in half, 2-1.

Saint Francis answered with three runs in the second to extend its lead to 5-1. Barnes, Saban, Ward and Hernandez all hit singles to open the inning with Ward bringing in one run and Hernandez two. Bezjak was hit by a pitch but was left on base to end the inning.

Frank hit a lead-off single and stole second. Saban reached base on a Youngstown State fielding error with two outs to score Frank. Ward hit a triple to bring Saban home.

The score remained 7-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning when YSU scored twice. Youngstown State drew a walk and hit three singles before a throw from Frank in center field caught a player going home.

GAME NOTES

• This is Ward's first double and second triple of the season.
• This is Ward's fifth multi-hit game and sixth multi-RBI game of the season.
• This is Hernandez's third multi-RBI game of the season.
• This is Baker's third double of the season.
• Eight different Red Flash players recorded a hit.

 
UP NEXT
The Red Flash travels to Akron for a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday before opening Northeast Conference play at home next weekend against Wagner.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.