LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball defeated Sacred Heart 10-2 in five innings and will host the Northeast Conference Tournament on May 12-14. Mekenzie Saban set a program record with 244th-career hit during the run-rule victory in game one.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Saint Francis clinched at least a share of the NEC Regular Season title with the win. The Red Flash would clinch the title outright with at least one win in the two games played Sunday, or one Mount St. Mary's loss in any of its remaining three game against LIU.
» Saban went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles and two RBIs in her record-setting performance.
» Rachel Marsden allowed two runs on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts through a complete-game effort.
» Jordan Pietrzykoski went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, one double, three RBIs and one walk.
» Sacred Heart's Grace Saad produced the only two Pioneers' runs with a first-inning two-run home run.
 
FLASH QUOTES
"This is definitely creating a lot of momentum heading into the tournament. Even though we went down today early, I know we had the fight in us. There was never a doubt in my mind that we were going to win today and play at home for the tournament." – Graduate Student Saban on clinching home field for the NEC Tournament.
 
"It is exciting, especially being in front of the home crowd and my family. It's definitely awesome but I'd take the win over all of that any day." – Saban on her 244th-career hit, a new program record.
 
"Today was amazing. Nothing beats playing on your home turf in front of the parents, alumni and fans. The amount of adversity we have faced this season, it is amazing to see this team come together at the right time." – Head coach Jessica O'Donnell on clinching home field for the NEC Tournament.
 
"To say I'm proud of Mekenzie is an understatement. She is not just an amazing athlete, but a wonderful person and leader. She demands excellence from not only herself, but everyone around her. Her accolades come from her work ethic and desire to be the best for her team. She is extremely disciplined and determined and it's nice to see that hard work pay off for her and our program." – Coach O'Donnell on Saban's record-breaking performance.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
» Sacred Heart started the game with a one-out two run home run from Saad that gave the Pioneers an early 2-0 lead. Saint Francis tied the game in the third inning when Saban scored on a Sacred Heart error and Olivia Ulam hit an RBI single.
» In the fourth inning, Saint Francis went up 4-2 on a Saban two-run double and added another run the next at-bat on a Pietrzykoski RBI double. Pietrzykoski scored the next play on a throwing error and opened a 6-2 lead.
» Lexi Hernandez extended the lead to 8-2 with a two-run double in the fifth inning that scored Ashley Wruble and Jordan Frank.
» With two runners on base and one out, Pietrzykoski drove in Aubry and Saban scored on a throwing error during the play and gave Saint Francis a walk-off 10-2 victory.

FLASH NUGGETS
» Saban set a new program record with her 244th-career hit during the fourth inning. She now holds the hits record and the doubles record with 66. With three runs scored, she moved to fourth in program history with 172 in her career.
» Marsden is now tied for third in single-season program history with her 19th win of the season.
» Saint Francis will host the NEC Tournament for the second year in a row and fourth time in the past five conference seasons.  

UP NEXT
Saint Francis hosts its final two games of the regular season on Sunday May 8 against Sacred Heart. Frank, Saban and Lindsay Ward will all be honored prior to the doubleheader for Senior Day.