HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – The Saint Francis softball team (9-4) wrapped up the weekend at the Thundering Herd Round Robin with narrow losses against Valparaiso by a 4-3 margin and Marshall by a 2-1 margin. Jordan Pietrzykoski recorded more than one hit in both games to lead the SFU offense.
 
GAME ONE
Saint Francis 3, Valparaiso 4
Records: Saint Francis (9-3), Valparaiso (3-6)
Location: Dot Hicks Field (Huntington, W. Va.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Christina Clark began the game in the circle for the Red Flash. Clark pitched two innings and saw two batters in the third. Rachel Marsden entered the game in the third with runners on second and third and no outs. She finished the game, allowing only one run on two hits while recording five strikeouts.

Valparaiso took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run before the Red Flash defense ended the inning with a double play.

Brittney Crawford cut the Valpo lead in half in the top of the third with a solo home run.

Valparaiso added a run in the bottom of the third. Valpo began the inning with back-to-back hits before Marsden entered the game. Valparaiso scored on a groundout to extend its lead to 3-1 before Marsden recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

The score remained 3-1 until ­­­­­­­Valpo tacked on a run to lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a pair of singles and a stolen base.

Lexi Hernandez cut the Valparaiso lead down to one in the top of the sixth on a fielder's choice play that saw everyone safe. Pietrzykoski and Lindsay Ward began the inning with back-to-back singles and the bases were loaded after Tayven Rousseau was hit by a pitch. Hernandez scored Pietrzykoski and Ward on the fielder's choice play as Pietrzykoski beat the throw home and Ward scored on an error.

Pietrzykoski hit a two-out single and Ward was walked to begin a seventh-inning rally but a fly ball to deep right center ended the game.

GAME NOTES

• This is Crawford's second home run of the season.
• This is Pietrzykoski's fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Ward's third multi-hit game of the season.

 
GAME TWO
Saint Francis 1, Marshall 2
Records: Saint Francis (9-4), Marshall (6-0)
Location: Dot Hicks Field (Huntington, W. Va.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Grace Vesco pitched the complete game for the Red Flash, giving up two runs on three hits. Vesco totaled five strikeouts.

Marshall took an early 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first.

Saint Francis loaded the bases in the third but was unable to score. Pietrzykoski hit a one-out double and stole third. Ward was hit by a pitch and stole second. Rousseau was walked for the second time of the game to load the bases.

The score remained 2-0 until the top of the fourth as the Red Flash was able to cut the Marshall lead to 2-1. Ashley Orischak singled and Mekenzie Saban hit a two-out double to place runners on second and third. A single from Pietrzykoski brought in the run but a tag-out on the play ended the inning as well as scoring for the game.

GAME NOTES

• Pietrzykoski hit her first double in a Red Flash uniform.
• Ward was hit by a pitch for the fifth time this season.
• Rousseau was walked twice. She's been walked six times this season.
• Pietrzykoski recorded back-to-back multi-hit games on Sunday, bringing her total to five on the season.
• This is Saban's sixth double of the season.
• Vesco did not give up a hit after the third inning.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Francis travels to Boiling Springs, North Carolina next weekend to face Gardner-Webb in back-to-back doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. The first game on both days is scheduled to begin at noon.
 
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.