LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis softball team (37-8, 22-2 NEC) wrapped up the regular season at LIU (25-7, 25-7 NEC) on Sunday, sweeping the doubleheader and the series. The Red Flash earned the top seed in the NEC Tournament and the opportunity to host. SFU's offense put up a decisive 11 runs in five innings in the first game as Grace Vesco and Rachel Marsden combined for the team's 13^th shutout in conference play. The Red Flash won the second game by a 7-5 margin.
 

THOUGHTS
Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell: "It feels great to overcome all the adversity this team has faced all season with Covid. I'm proud to see us take advantage of our opportunities and play our hearts out. Hosting the tournament at home is huge. We love that we get the opportunity to play on our home turf in front of our fans."

Senior infielder Mekenzie Saban: "I just encouraged everyone to stay in control of the things that we could control, never take a game for granted and play without regrets."
 
GAME ONE
Saint Francis 11, LIU 0 (5 inn.)
Records: Saint Francis (36-8, 21-2 NEC), LIU (25-6, 25-6 NEC)
Location: LIU Softball Complex (Brookville, N.Y.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Grace Vesco started the game in the circle for the Red Flash. Vesco pitched three complete innings, giving up no runs on no hits and two walks. Rachel Marsden entered the game to begin the fourth inning. Marsden pitched the remaining two innings, giving up no runs on two hits and a strikeout.

Saint Francis scored first on a Tayven Rousseau grand slam. Mekenzie Saban and Lexi Hernandez both singled. The bases were loaded when Allyn Bezjak drew a one-out walk. Jordan Frank hit a single and Lauren Aubry walked before LIU pulled its starting pitcher. The LIU defense ended the inning with a jumping catch as the Red Flash left runners at second and third.

The Red Flash added five runs in the second to extend its lead to 9-0. Saban led off with a double and scored on a double from Jordan Pietrzykoski. Bezjak singled up the middle to score Pietrzykoski. Rousseau was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with one out. Frank hit a three-run shot to left field to score the remaining runs before the Sharks made another pitching change.

The score remained 9-0 until the top of the fifth inning when the Red Flash added two runs to cap scoring at 11-0. Ashley Wruble reached base on a fielding error before Saban hit a home run.

GAME NOTES

• Vesco and Marsden combined for the team's 18^th shutout of the season, which is the highest single-season shutout total in program history. The previous record of 17 shutouts was set in 1998.
• The Red Flash is up to 67 stolen bases this season, tying for the third-most in a single season in program history.
• Vesco has the second-most single-season wins in program history after earning her 20^th victory of the season.
• Saban is tied for the fourth-most hits in a single season in program history (65) and tied for fifth in doubles (17).
• This is Rousseau's second grand slam and team-leading eighth home run of the season.
• This is Rousseau's ninth multi-RBI game of the season.
• This is Saban's fourth home run of the season and eighth multi-RBI game of the season.
• This is Saban's 17^th double and 20^th multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Pietrzykoski's seventh double of the season and 11^th multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Frank's fourth home run of the season.
• This is Frank's fifth multi-hit game and sixth multi-RBI game of the season.
• This is Bezjak's seventh multi-hit game of the season.
• Seven different Red Flash players recorded a hit.

 
GAME TWO
Saint Francis 7, LIU 5
Records: Saint Francis (37-8, 22-2 NEC), LIU (25-7, 25-7 NEC)
Location: LIU Softball Complex (Brookville, N.Y.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Christina Clark started the game in the circle for the Red Flash. Clark surrendered five runs through five innings of work while striking out two batters. Marsden entered the game as relief to begin the sixth inning. Marsden pitched the remaining two innings, giving up no runs on one hit and striking out four batters.

The Red Flash scored first, tallying a run in the top of the first inning. Saban led off with a single and scored on a single off the bat of Rousseau.

LIU took its first lead of the series in the bottom of the first with two runs. The Sharks led off with a bunt single and scored two on a home run.

SFU batted around in the second, taking a 6-2 lead with five runs. After Ward led off the second with a double, Wruble tied the game with a sacrifice fly. The Red Flash loaded the bases on two-out singles by Madeline Barnes, Saban and Pietrzykoski. Hernandez cleared the bases with a double. Rousseau followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Frank brought in the final run of the inning with a double.

The Sharks got one back in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly after a walk and a single.

Saint Francis responded with a run in the top of the third. Brittney Crawford led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Crawford scored on a double off the bat of Saban.

The score remained 7-3 until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Sharks scored on a triple and a single to cut the Red Flash's lead to 7-5.
 
GAME NOTES

• The Red Flash pitching staff moved up to second on the program's single-season record list with 297 strikeouts this season.
• Among single-season program records, Saban now ranks fourth in hits (68), tied for fourth in doubles (18) and tied fifth in stolen bases (19).
• This is Ward's second double of the season.
• This is Hernandez's fifth double and ninth multi-RBI game of the season.
• This is Saban's 18^th double and 21^st multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Rousseau's 10^th multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Frank's sixth double and sixth multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Crawford's fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• This is Clark's fourth win of the season.
• This is Marsden's first save of the season.
• Eight different Red Flash players recorded a hit.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Francis earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament, beginning on Thursday. The Red Flash will host the tournament in Loretto.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.