CLEMSON, S.C. - The Red Flash softball team (7-7; 0-0) finished the Clemson Classic splitting its Saturday doubleheader. Saint Francis fell to Boston University in game one, 9-0, in five innings, but won against Akron in the consolation game, 6-0.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Boston defeated Saint Francis with help from a second inning grand slam, and a two-run triple walked it off for the Terriers in the fifth inning. Saint Francis, however, rebounded with a win over Akron after a dominant pitching performance by Rachel Marsden and an offensive explosion from the Red Flash.
» Mekenzie Saban collected two hits in each game today.
» Marsden came close to perfection against Akron, holding the Zips hitless until the seventh inning.
» Olivia Ulam sealed Saint Francis' win over Akron with her bases-clearing triple in the fourth inning.
FLASH QUOTES
» "I'm proud of them. I think the first game we were so focused on our individual performances instead of our team performance. I challenged them to come back and work together because we win as a team and lose as a team, and they came back in game two." - Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell on team's resilience in game two
» "How can you not talk about Rachel's performance? I told the team after game two that it's not a coincidence that our best teammate just pitched an amazing game, it's not coincidence. She really has stepped up this year. Coming into the fall and this season, I really wanted her to step up into that leadership role where people can lean on her and depend on her and she's done a phenomenal job with that." - O'Donnell on Rachel Marsden
» "We've just been waiting for that moment to break her in to this level. She's been working really hard in practice and going live with our hitters, and I was really happy to see her come out in her first outing and do as well as she did. She came in during a tough situation with the bases loaded and worked out of it. She's tough and she's only going to continue to get better." - O'Donnell on Marissa Frederick's debut.
» "In the beginning, it was a lot of excitement, but knowing I needed to come in to provide for my team when they worked hard for everything they have, I knew I needed to work hard for them then." - Freshman pitcher Marissa Frederick
» "It was in the back of my mind, but I wasn't focused on it. I wasn't trying to throw a no-hitter. I was focused on helping my team get outs, but it was in the back of my mind." - Junior pitcher Rachel Marsden on near-perfect performance
» "We put it in perspective that we're a team and we do everything as a team, and that starts with getting off the bus together. I think we put that into perspective and played for the people next to us, which we've lost sight of at times, but we did it against Akron and it made a difference." - Marsden on team's resilience in game two
» "Playing a ranked team and holding them to two runs helps keeps us driven and keeps us excited for the regional stage, but that stage doesn't happen unless we show out in conference. Akron is similar to a conference opponent and we have to go out there and beat the conference opponents to make it to that regional stage. I think that's what this weekend prepared us for." - Graduate infielder Mekenzie Saban
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME - GAME 1
» After holding Saint Francis scoreless in the top half, Boston's Nicole Amodio opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the first with a grand slam.
» Lauren Nett and Lauren Keleher added insurance runs in the third inning. Nett drove in a run on a fielder's choice, while Keleher sacrificed herself to right field to bring in the other.
» Kayla Ronin would capitalize on an errant throw by Saint Francis to put Boston up by seven.
» Tyesha Williams would seal the mercy rule win for Boston after a single drove in the eighth run.
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME - GAME 2
» After Mekenzie Saban singled to open up the bottom of the first, Olivia Ulam drove her in on a double to right center to give Saint Francis an early lead.
» Saint Francis added two more runs in the third inning, one coming off a double by Rachel Marsden — who also shined on the mound by throwing six perfect innings against Akron — and the other off an infield single by Jordan Frank.
» Ulam struck again in the fourth inning after she cleared the bases with a triple to right center — her first of the season and her career.
» Marsden would carry the aforementioned perfect game into the seventh inning, but would lose it after Akron's Molly McChesney bunted for a single to lead off the inning. Marsden, however, would get the next three hitters out to end the game.
FLASH NUGGETS
» Marissa Frederick made her season debut against Boston by pitching 2.2 innings of relief and did not allow a walk.
» With her two hit performances against Boston and Akron, Mekenzie Saban now has six multi-hit games this year.
» Olivia Ulam brought the lumber to Clemson as she went 5-for-10 on the weekend with five RBI and two extra base hits.
» Rachel Marsden set season highs in innings pitched (7), strikeouts (10), walks (0) and hits (1) against Akron.
» Emily Nunez secured her first hit of the season after singling to right field against Akron.
UP NEXT
Saint Francis (7-7, 0-0) travels to Florida next week for the North Florida/Jacksonville Spring Break Challenge, starting with a game against Monmouth on Friday beginning at 1:30 p.m. Other opponents include North Florida, Holy Cross and Jacksonville.
