FURMAN, S.C. - The Red Flash Softball team (5-5, 0-0) ended their weekend at the Furman Tournament with a bounce back win over South Dakota Sunday morning, beating the Coyotes, 6-5, at Pepsi Stadium.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Saint Francis trailed, 2-0, throughout the first four innings, but capitalized on two South Dakota errors in the fifth to ignite a comeback.
» Lexi Hernandez played hero in the game as she tied the game in the fifth on a ground out, and gave Saint Francis the lead in the sixth with a two-run single.
» Lindsay Ward hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to give Saint Francis a three-run lead.
» Rachel Marsden struck out five hitters and picked up her fourth win of the season in a complete game against South Dakota.
» South Dakota's Gabby Moser led her team with three hits.

FLASH QUOTES

» "I thought it was a great team win. This was the most 'Red Flash Softball' that we've seen all season. We fought to the end, made amazing defensive plays, had key hits and ran the bases a lot better today. Rachel pitched a gem and they were a real good team. I'm proud to see the growth and the lessons we've learned up until this point, I think it paid off today." - Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell

» "Lexi was in a serious accident very early in the season, so we've just been waiting for her to break through, and for her to come up in that moment and come through for us, I think that was that moment." - O'Donnell on Lexi Hernandez

» "Lindsay is just a tough player. She doesn't like to lose and she's the ultimate competitor, so I'm not surprised by her performance, but again I'm very proud of her." - O'Donnell on Lindsay Ward.

» "One player who might be overlooked in the game is Ashley Orischak. She made an amazing play up the middle and a great throw to J.P, on the final play to get the lead runner. It was one of the top performances today and something I can't overlook." - O'Donnell on Ashley Orischak's defense

» "My mindset started in warmups. I told myself I need to quit being anxious in the box and I need to play softball. Yeah, I'm recovering from a bad accident, but there's no reason I shouldn't be performing." - Sophomore Utlity Lexi Hernandez

» "I was just trying to put a good swing on the ball. I kinda knew where she was putting the ball and I was able to recognize it and get a good swing on it. I was lucky because Jordan got on and did her job, so I said that it was time for me to do mine." - Senior Infielder Lindsay Ward

» "I think my team did a great job of rising to the occasion. We had a really disappointing day yesterday, and we were looking to bounce back today. We knew that if we all played together and focused on playing as a team, we could get the job done." - Junior Pitcher Rachel Marsden

» "This is definitely a momentum builder. I think there's a lot to take away from this game, like the fight and passion we had, I think it's stuff we need to take forward with us, have a good week of practice and get the ball rolling next week at Clemson." - Marsden on quick turnaround

TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME 
» South Dakota took a one-run lead in the second after a double by Gabby Moser opened the game's scoring.
» In the third, South Dakota extended their lead to two after a fielder's choice.
» Saint Francis came back to tie the game in the fifth inning after South Dakota committed two errors. Ashley Wruble and Lexi Hernandez drove in the aforementioned runs on two groundouts.
» Hernandez gave Saint Francis its first lead in the sixth inning after driving in a pair of runs on a single.
» South Dakota closed in on the Red Flash lead as the Coyotes plated a run in the bottom half, thanks to a triple by Lauren Eamiguel.
» Saint Francis, however, added two more runs in the seventh inning after Lindsay Ward hit her second home run of the season to center field, scoring both herself and Jordan Pietrzykoski.
» South Dakota would rally for two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but infielder Ashley Orischak made a key stop on a ground ball to get the lead runner out at second, ending the game.

FLASH NUGGETS
» Lindsay Ward's home run was her second of the season, placing her second on the team.
» With her three RBI in the game, Lexi Hernandez is now tied for fourth among the team in RBI. She joins Ashley Wruble and Jordan Frank with five RBI this season.
» Rylee Evans made her season debut after appearing as a defensive substitution in the fourth inning.
» Rachel Marsden picked up her fourth win of the season and is one strikeout shy from 40.

UP NEXT
» Saint Francis (5-5, 0-0) heads to Clemson next weekend for four games against Akron, Boston, Clemson and a team to be determined. Friday's game will be at noon.