JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Red Flash softball team (8-8; 0-0) opened their trip to the UNF/JU Spring Break Challenge with a day one split, beating Monmouth, 3-2, in eight innings, then falling to North Florida, 6-0, in the nightcap.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Saint Francis took game one in extra innings after Jordan Frank scored Lindsay Ward on a fielder's choice.
» Grace Vesco struck out five while earning the win over Monmouth.
» North Florida rode a four-run fifth inning to a shutout win over Saint Francis.
» Mekenzie Saban notched two hits in each game.
FLASH QUOTES
» "I was really proud of the way we fought. I thought it was really solid and fundamental softball in game one. I would've liked to see more offense prior to the eighth inning, but that's the M.O. of the team: just fight." - Head Coach Jessica O'Donnell on game one.
» "We went down and couldn't get back there. I keep using a boxing reference with [the team]: you get punched in the mouth and how are you responding? I think we're just waiting to see what's happening then responding instead of coming out and showing who we are. I really wanna see us come out of the gates and play the way they know how to." - O'Donnell on game two.
» "I talked to the team about her at the end of the second game and just told them that she's no longer a freshman. The reason I can keep pointing to her is that she's putting her head down and getting to work, and there's not a whole lot you have to worry about with her. She's learning from her mistakes every game and that's really worth noting." O'Donnell on Olivia Ulam
» "I've just been focused on making adjustments every at-bat. I've been focusing on hitting up the middle, learning from my teammates and going from there." - Freshman Olivia Ulam on approach to hitting.
» "We keep emphasizing that good things will happen on the ground, and I knew in that situation I needed to keep the ball on the ground. I knew the pitcher was giving me something to take to the right side, and it helps knowing the person behind me — Rachel — could get the job done if I couldn't. So, just having the confidence that I can rely on my teammates helped in that situation." - Senior Jordan Frank
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME - GAME 1
» Saint Francis and Monmouth held each other scoreless throughout the first seven innings of play. Grace Vesco struck out four over that span, while Monmouth pitcher Kylie Gletow tallied three.
» Lindsay Baron broke the scoreless tie in the eighth and gave Monmouth the lead after a double to left field drove in Francesca Torraca. Three hitters later, first baseman Julia Thuer extended the Hawks' lead with a single to right.
» Mekenzie Saban put the Red Flash on the board in the bottom half after a single to center scored pinch runner Lauren Aubry.
» Olivia Ulam knotted up the scoring a few hitters later with a single to center that scored Jordan Pietrzykoski from second.
» Jordan Frank would end the game the following at-bat with a fielder's choice to second.
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME - GAME 2
» North Florida opened the game's scoring after a squeeze bunt by catcher Ashley Goebel scored Hadlee Reichert from third.
» Savannah Channel doubled in an insurance run an inning later.
» The Osprey would add four more in the fifth inning. Shannon Glover drove the first run in off a fielder's choice; Paige Pfent added two with a triple to right; and Reichert picked up another RBI with an infield single.
» Saint Francis tallied a hit in the final inning off a bunt single by Jordan Frank, but pitcher Morgan Clausen recorded two outs shortly after to end the game.
FLASH NUGGETS
» Olivia Ulam now owns a three-game hitting streak after notching a single against North Florida.
» Mekenzie Saban has four consecutive multi-hit games and has tallied multiple hits in five over her last six games.
» Madeline Barnes tallied her first hit of the season with a single against Monmouth.
UP NEXT
Saint Francis (8-8, 0-0) returns to action tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader against Holy Cross and Jacksonville at Jacksonville University. First pitches are slated for 1:30 and 6:30 p.m., respectively.
