EMMITSBURG, Md. – The Saint Francis softball team (29-8, 14-2 NEC) wrapped up its midweek series at Mount St. Mary's (13-22, 6-11 NEC) with a split to win the series. The Mount rallied to win the first game 6-5 after Saint Francis scored the first five runs of the game. In game two, the Red Flash offense erupted for six runs in the eighth inning to win the game by a 6-0 margin on the back of a complete-game shutout by Rachel Marsden.
 

THOUGHTS (GAME TWO)
Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell: "Our team never quit. That's something special about Saint Francis Softball – we respond. Rachel Marsden pitched a masterpiece and had ice in her veins today. She kept us alive and Madeline Barnes was tough as nails behind the plate. This was a great team win and the energy was much better in game two today. I'm proud of how we responded."

Senior outfielder Brittney Crawford: "I just struck to my process and didn't make the moment bigger than it was. I just wanted to give whatever I had left to make something happen."
 
GAME ONE
Saint Francis 5, Mount St. Mary's 6
Records: Saint Francis (28-8, 13-2 NEC), Mount St. Mary's (13-21, 6-10 NEC)
Location: Our Lady of the Meadows Field (Emmitsburg, Md.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Grace Vesco pitched the complete game, giving up five earned runs on nine hits. Vesco totaled nine strikeouts.

The Red Flash tallied a run in the top of the first to take an early lead. Mekenzie Saban drew the lead-off walk, followed by a pair of fielder's choice plays. Allyn Bezjak had the first hit of the game to put runners on first and second with two outs. Tayven Rousseau brought Lexi Hernandez around from second with a single to left field.

Saint Francis added a run in the second inning. Brittney Crawford, Madeline Barnes and Saban all hit one-out singles to load the bases. Jordan Pietrzykoski brought Crawford home to increase SFU's lead to 2-0.

SFU extended its lead to 4-0 as Jordan Frank hit a two-run home run in the third. Bezjak had the first extra-base hit of the game and Ashley Wruble came in to pinch run before Frank's at-bat.

The Mount changed pitchers to begin the fourth inning. Saban doubled and Pietrzykoski singled to put runners on first and second with one out before Hernandez batted in Saban with an RBI single. Bezjak walked to load the bases but a double play ended the inning with the Red Flash ahead 5-0.

The Mountaineers scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the SFU lead to 5-2. Mount St. Mary's drew a walk and had its first two hits of the game, both singles, as only one of the runs was earned.

MSM scored two more runs in the fifth to trim the Saint Francis lead to 5-4. A pair of singles and a fielder's choice scored the runs before the Mountaineers loaded the bases with one out. A force-out at home and a Vesco strikeout ended the inning with the bases loaded.

The Mountaineers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.

GAME NOTES

• Saint Francis scored in the top of the first inning in each of the three games in the series.
• This is Frank's second home run and third multi-RBI game of the season.
• This is Bezjak's fifth multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Saban's 15^th double of the season and 40^th of her career, moving her into sole possession of fourth on Saint Francis' all-time leaders list.
• This is Saban's 16^th multi-hit game of the season and 13^th straight game with a hit.
• Eight of the nine Red Flash starters tallied at least one hit.

 
GAME TWO
Saint Francis 6, Mount St. Mary's 0 (8 inn.)
Records: Saint Francis (29-8, 14-2 NEC), Mount St. Mary's (13-22, 6-11 NEC)
Location: Our Lady of the Meadows Field (Emmitsburg, Md.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rachel Marsden ­­­­pitched the complete-game shutout, giving up no walks and only two hits while striking out five.

Frank got the first hit of the game in the second. The Red Flash then loaded the bases in the top of the third on a single from Barnes and walks from Saban and Pietrzykoski but could not break the scoreless tie.

The Red Flash defense got two tag-outs at home in the bottom of the sixth, followed by a Marsden strikeout to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

The Saint Francis offense broke the scoreless tie with six runs in the top of the eighth inning. Bezjak began the hitting with a single and Rousseau followed with a walk. Sydney Baker was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Crawford hit a single to the pitcher to score the first run of the inning. Barnes drew a walk to force in a run. Saban scored two runs with her second double of the day. Pietrzykoski and Hernandez each hit an RBI single to cap scoring.

GAME NOTES

• Marsden did not allow a hit until the fourth inning en route to her third shutout of the season.
• Saban extends her hit streak to 14-straight games.
• This is Saban's 17^th multi-hit game and 16^th double of the season.
• This is the first extra-inning conference game for the Red Flash and the first since March 14.
• This is Crawford's third multi-hit game of the season.
• This is the Red Flash's ninth shutout of conference play and second of the series.
• Saint Francis recorded 10 hits in each game today.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns home to host a four-game series against Central Connecticut this weekend. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. while Sunday's doubleheader is slated for noon.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.