AUSTIN, Texas – The Saint Francis softball team (40-10, 22-2 NEC) faced No. 10 Oregon (38-16, 14-10 Pac 12) at the 2021 NCAA Regionals on Saturday, falling by a 7-0 margin to conclude the 2021 season.

 
THOUGHTS
Acting Head Coach Erika Renwick: "I just want to thank Jessica O'Donnell and the softball staff for their hard work this year. They prepared the team for all of the success they had this season and overcame so many challenges. They got better every day and continued to build and keep growing a successful softball program at Saint Francis University."
 
Saint Francis 0, No. 10 Oregon 7
Records: Saint Francis (40-10, 22-2 NEC), Oregon (38-16, 14-10 Pac 12)
Location: Red and Charline McCombs Field (Austin, Texas)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rachel Marsden started the game in the circle for the Red Flash. Marsden pitched six complete innings and saw three batters in the seventh before Grace Vesco came into the game as relief. Marsden surrendered five earned runs on eight hits and two walks. Vesco allowed only one hit while earning a strikeout.

The Ducks scored first, plating two runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI single up the middle to lead 2-0 in the middle of the first. Mekenzie Saban hit a lead-off single but was left on first to end the first.

Oregon added an unearned run on a pair of singles in the second with nobody out but a fielder's choice and back-to-back flyouts to Brittney Crawford ended the inning with a 3-0 score. The Red Flash defense forced the Ducks offense down in order in the third inning as the score remained 3-0.

Lexi Hernandez hit a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth but the Red Flash threat ended with a double play. Oregon responded with one run on back-to-back doubles in the fifth to increase its lead to 4-0.

The Saint Francis defense retired Oregon in order for the second time of the game in the top of the sixth. The Ducks would add three runs in the seventh on three hits and a sacrifice fly to push the margin to 7-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Vesco ended the Oregon threat with a strikeout.

GAME NOTES

• Saban led off the Red Flash offense with a single for the second game in a row. This is her eighth-straight game with a hit.
• Hernandez has a hit in six of her last seven games.

 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.