LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis softball team (33-8, 18-2 NEC) wrapped up its series against Central Connecticut (22-13, 20-8 NEC) with senior day on Thursday, sweeping the doubleheader to earn the series sweep. In the first game, the Red Flash earned its second shutout of the series, winning 4-0. In the second game, Saint Francis won by a 3-2 margin.
 
THOUGHTS
Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell: "I'm so excited for our seniors and can't wait to continue to compete with them for a few more weeks. When we came in three years ago, they welcomed us with open arms and have poured their hearts out for Saint Francis. I'm proud of the strong women they have become and I can't wait to see what they accomplish down the road."
 

GAME ONE
Saint Francis 4, Central Connecticut 0
Records: Saint Francis (32-8, 17-2 NEC), Central Connecticut (22-12, 20-7 NEC)
Location: Red Flash Softball Field (Loretto, Pa.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Grace Vesco pitched the complete-game shutout, giving up only one hit and no walks while striking out 11 batters.

CCSU went down in order to begin the game, including two strikeouts from Vesco. Saint Francis responded by scoring first in the bottom of the first. Mekenzie Saban led off with a single and reached third on a sacrifice bunt from Jordan Pietrzykoski. Saban scored on a ground ball off the bat of Lexi Hernandez.

The Red Flash added a run in the second. Jordan Frank singled and stole second, reaching third on the throw. Lauren Aubry brought Frank home with a single. Madeline Barnes doubled down the right field line but a double play ended the SFU threat.

SFU tacked on two runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-0. Barnes and Saban both singled. Pietrzykoski and Hernandez each earned an RBI.

GAME NOTES

• Vesco pitched a perfect game through six and one-third innings and took a no-hitter into the seventh.
• Vesco reached 10 strikeouts for the fourth time this season and moved into third on the single-season program record list with 160.
• This is the Red Flash's 11^th shutout of conference play.
• This is Barnes' third double and fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Saban's 18^th multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Hernandez's eighth multi-RBI game of the season.
• This is Frank's fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Aubry's fifth multi-hit game of the season.

 
GAME TWO
Saint Francis 3, Central Connecticut 2
Records: Saint Francis (33-8, 18-2 NEC), Central Connecticut (22-13, 20-8 NEC)
Location: Red Flash Softball Field (Loretto, Pa.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rachel Marsden started in the circle for the Red Flash, going five complete innings. Marsden gave up two runs on three hits while totaling five strikeouts. Vesco came in as relief for the start of the sixth inning. She pitched the remaining two innings, allowing no base runners but earning three strikeouts.

Central Connecticut hit a lead-off home run in the first to take an early 1-0 after the top of the first.

The Red Flash tied the game in the bottom of the first. Saban led off with a single and stole second. She reached third on a ground ball from Pietrzykoski. Hernandez brought Saban home to tie the game.

Tayven Rousseau led off the second inning with a home run to give Saint Francis the 2-1 lead after two complete innings.
CCSU tied the game with a lead-off home run in the fourth inning.

Saint Francis took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Red Flash loaded the bases on a fielding error for Allyn Bezjak, a bunt single from Frank and a walk from Aubry. Barnes drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run. The bases were left loaded to end the inning.

GAME NOTES

• The team is now tied for the fourth-most wins in a single season in program history.
• This is Rousseau's seventh home run of the season.
• This is Saban's second multi-hit game of the day and 19^th of the season.
• This is Marsden's 12^th win of the season.
• This is Vesco's second save of the season.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Francis concludes the regular season with a four-game series at LIU this weekend. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 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.