CLEMSON, S.C. - The Red Flash softball team (6-6; 0-0) split their Friday doubleheader at the Clemson Classic, defeating Akron, 4-2, in the first game and falling to No. 14 Clemson, 2-0, in the night cap.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Saint Francis trailed heading into the bottom of the sixth against Akron, but a two-run home run by Mekenzie Saban and a two-run single by Olivia Ulam lifted the Red Flash over the Zips.
» Grace Vesco set a new season-high with 10 strikeouts in a complete game win over Akron.
» Rachel Marsden opened game two against No. 14 Clemson with five innings of one-hit ball, but a costly error in the sixth gave the Tigers a late advantage.
» Ulam carried over her momentum from game one and went 2-for-3 against Clemson.
FLASH QUOTES
» "I'm really proud of the way our team played today. We went down early against Akron, but the way they fought back reminded me of the team from last year. Grace seemed to be more like herself today. She didn't quit and I was proud of the way she pitched and I was proud of the way our team fought." - Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell on the win over Akron
» "I think we made Saint Francis proud tonight. I've always talked to our team about how we are not going to back down from anyone, and I'm just proud of how we competed against [Clemson]. It didn't go in our favor, but if we can learn from the small mistakes we made, we'll be tough going down the stretch." O'Donnell on loss to Clemson
» "I think we really put the pieces together and played as a team. We came into this weekend thinking that this is what a regional game would be like for us." - Graduate infielder Mekenzie Saban
» "I think just going in I had the mentality of getting ahead early and attacking the hitters and trusting my defense behind me. We fought the entire game until the end." - Junior pitcher Grace Vesco on win against Akron
» "I was just trying to keep it simple on the mound. Obviously, I knew their ranking coming into the game, but I didn't let that get in my head. I just pitched my game and let the defense work behind me. - Junior pitcher Rachel Marsden
» "Going up against a ranked team, it's a good feeling. I went up there and just tried to focus on doing everything for my team. I had the same mindset in game one, and it felt good getting the go-ahead hit." - Freshman infielder Olivia Ulam
» "It's helping a lot, but I'm also learning at the same time. I've made some mistakes but my teammates are helping me learn, and it's good getting this exposure against big teams early on so I can fix those mistakes." - Ulam on how these games help her evolve as a collegiate athlete.
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME - GAME 1
» Akron's Madison Dudek reached on a Red Flash error in the bottom of the second, and Jaiden Bryant brought her in with a RBI single to center field, giving the Zips an early lead.
» One inning later, Kalli Macintosh-Houlder extended the Zips lead with a solo home run.
» Akron threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases after a hit and two walks, but Grace Vesco held all runners with a strikeout.
» After Lexi Hernandez walked to open the Saint Francis half of the sixth, Mekenzie Saban tied the game with a two-run home run to center field.
» Jordan Pietrzykoski and Lindsay Ward got on base with a walk and hit, and were brought in after a go-ahead single by Olivia Ulam.
» Vesco would retire the side in the seventh, sealing the win for Saint Francis.
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME - GAME 2
» Clemson notched its first hit in the bottom of the first, but the Saint Francis defense left the runner stranded at second.
» Olivia Ulam opened the Saint Francis second with a lead-off single. Rachel Marsden and Jordan Frank would reach afterwards following a walk and fielder's choice, but Clemson's defense strung together three quick outs to keep the game scoreless.
» Lindsay Ward opened the fourth inning with an infield single, but a strikeout and double play would prevent her from scoring.
» Clemson opened the scoring in the bottom of the sixth after Sam Russ scored on an error by Jordan Pietrzykoski. The Tigers would add another after Marissa Guimbarda doubled in a runner from second.
» Saint Francis wouldn't go down without a fight, however, as the Red Flash got two runners on in the top of the seventh after back-to-back singles from Ward and Ulam, but a fly out ended the Red Flash rally.
FLASH NUGGETS
» Grace Vesco set a new season-high with 10 strikeouts against Akron.
» Olivia Ulam's multi-hit game against Clemson was the third multi-hit performance of the year.
» Rachel Marsden did not allow a walk in a complete game against Clemson, marking the second time this year she's accomplished this feat.
» After collecting two hits against Clemson, Lindsay Ward now owns a six-game hitting streak.
UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns for day two of the Clemson Classic tomorrow morning to take on the Boston Terriers at 10 a.m. If the Red Flash win, they move on to the championship at 5:30 p.m., and with a loss, they will play in the consolation game at 3:30 p.m.
