LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis softball team (33-8, 18-2 NEC) travels to LIU (25-3, 25-3 NEC) for a battle of the top two NEC teams in the final weekend of the regular season. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. while Sunday's doubleheader will begin at noon.
 

The Matchup: Saint Francis (33-8, 18-2 NEC) at LIU (25-3, 25-3 NEC)
Location: LIU Softball Complex (Brookville, N.Y.)
Date and Time: Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon
Live Stats: liuathletics.com
NEC Front Row: Saturday | Sunday
 
SCOUTING THE SHARKS
LIU enters the weekend with a 25-3 NEC record, with all of its games being against conference opponents this season. The Sharks are on a 17-game win streak and are a perfect 12-0 at home this season. Most recently, LIU swept a doubleheader at Bryant on April 28, earning the 6-0 shutout in game one and winning game two in five innings by an 11-2 margin.

This season, senior infielder Alina Castillo leads the LIU offense in batting average (.470) as four starters average over .400 this year. Senior infielder Ciara Granado leads the offense in doubles (12), home runs (5), RBI (37), total bases (57) and slugging percentage (.679). Graduate pitcher Tallie Woodson leads the Sharks pitching staff in ERA (1.91), wins (12), appearances (15), starts (13), complete games (13), shutouts (3), saves (2), innings pitched (84.2), strikeouts (70) and opponent average (.211).

SERIES WITH THE SHARKS
LIU leads the all-time series 45-21 against Saint Francis. The teams most recently met in the 2019 NEC Tournament three times, with the Red Flash winning two of three to win the NEC Tournament Championship.

Saint Francis won the championship game by an 8-6 margin, scoring eight unanswered runs through the first four innings and holding off the LIU offense for the victory. Christina Clark entered the circle as relief in the fifth inning and preserved the lead, earning her third save of the season. Mekenzie Saban had two hits and scored twice, including what would be the game-deciding run. Tayven Rousseau also had a hit in the victory.

CLINCHED
With the wins against Central Connecticut, Saint Francis has clinched a spot in the 2021 NEC Tournament. The tournament will be hosted by the No. 1 seed from Thursday, May 13 to Saturday, May 15 and is double elimination. The top four teams based on conference winning percentage following the regular-season finale qualify for the NEC Tournament.

LAST TIME OUT
Saint Francis swept the four-game series at Central Connecticut on Wednesday and Thursday at home. On Wednesday, the Red Flash earned a five-inning 9-0 shutout win with three home runs in the fifth inning to seal game one before rallying from a 3-0 deficit to earn a 4-3 victory in nine innings in game two. Grace Vesco broke the program's single-season shutout record with her 11^th shutout of the season in the first game while Lauren Aubry ended both games with a home run.

On Thursday, Saint Francis earned its 11^th shutout in conference play with a 4-0 win in game one before winning 3-2 in game two to sweep the series. Vesco pitched a perfect game through six and one third innings in the first game en route to a one-hitter and her 12^th shutout of the season. The Red Flash is tied for the fourth-most wins in a single season in program history with 33 on the year after Rachel Marsden's 12^th win of the season in the 3-2 decision.

Through games on May 5, the SFU pitching staff ranks fourth in the nation in ERA (1.30), tied for ninth in shutouts (15) and 16^th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.82), while the offense ranks 25^th in the country in on-base percentage (.397), 28^th in scoring (5.92), 42^nd in batting percentage (.301) and 50^th in stolen bases per game (1.56). The team is 20^th in win percentage (.795).

Individually through games on May 5, Vesco ranks fifth in the nation in shutouts (11), 10^th in hits allowed per seven innings (3.26), 13^th in ERA (0.98), tied for 25^th in wins (17), tied for 39^th in strikeouts (149). Saban is tied for fifth in the country in doubles (16), ranks 13^th in doubles per game (.41), tied for 33^rd in hits (56), 38^th in runs per game (1.03). Marsden ranks 29^th in walks allowed per seven innings (1.11), 34^th in ERA (1.37) and 38^th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.53).
 
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.