LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball took a doubleheader sweep over Sacred Heart and clinched its second straight NEC Regular Season Champions title and fourth in the past five conference seasons. The Red Flash won game one 6-2 and game two 9-0 in five innings.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Jordan Frank hit a walk-off grand slam in game two and finished the doubleheader 3-for-6.
» Rachel Marsden pitched a complete game shutout and allowed only one hit with no walks and two strikeouts.
» Lindsay Ward went 4-for-7 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Mekenzie Saban went 2-for-5 with two runs scored one double and two RBIs.
» Grace Vesco pitched a complete game one and allowed two runs on two hits with seven walks and 10 strikeouts.
» Ashley Wruble went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs and one walk.
 
FLASH QUOTES
"We're finally in a groove and the confidence is up. Our pitchers and hitters are all playing really well. It was a lot of fun to have the Senior Day and get a sweep at the same time." – Graduate student Frank on the momentum the team has heading into the NEC Tournament.
 
"It was a perfect scenario and perfect situation. I felt a lot of confidence because everyone was hitting well and that boosting mine. I wasn't thinking in the box, which is always a good thing, and just wanted to have fun on Senior Day. That was a great way to end it." – Frank on ending her regular season career with a walk-off grand slam.
 
"It is huge that we are connecting on all-three cylinders of the game. I feel really good that we're connecting on those, but we still have work to do in the tournament. It's going to be a good tournament and every game is going to be tough, but we're going to make sure we bring it in all facets of the game." – Head coach Jessica O'Donnell on winning seven in a row heading into the NEC Tournament.
 
"She's a really hard worker and it is a nice ending to a really great regular season for Jordan. I'm really proud of her and I'm excited for what's to come in the postseason." – Coach O'Donnell on Frank's walk-off grad slam.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME – Game 1
» Saint Francis started the scoring early with a Jordan Pietrzykoski RBI double in the first inning and took a 1-0 lead. After a scoreless second and third inning, the Red Flash put up four runs in the fourth inning.
» Saban and Pietrzykoski produced back-to-back bases-loaded walks, followed by a Ward infield single and took a 4-0 lead. Marsden hit an infield single that scored two runs and capped off the four-run inning.
» Sacred Heart responded with two runs in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly and single that cut the deficit to 6-2.
» With the Pioneers only able to produce one baserunner and no runs in the final two inning, Saint Francis clinched its 6-2 game one win and the outright NEC Regular Season Champions title.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME – GAME 2
» After two scoreless innings to start the game, Saban hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning and gave Saint Francis a 1-0 lead.
» In the fourth inning, Marsden hit a sacrifice fly, followed by a two-run Lexi Hernandez single and one-run Wruble single that opened a 5-0 lead.
» Pietrzykoski, Ward and Olivia Ulam loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning before Frank hit a walk-off grand slam to clinch the 9-0 Red Flash victory.

FLASH NUGGETS
» Saint Francis' 20 conference wins this season are its second-highest total in program history behind only last season's 22. The Red Flash now have an 84-14 conference record over the past five conference seasons.
» The grand slam was Frank's first of her career and only her second four-RBI game – her first against Wagner on April 14, 2019.
» Vesco fell one strikeout short of her season-high with 10 against the Pioneers. The game was her fifth start of the season that she allowed two or less hits.
» Marsden is now third in single-season program history with 20 wins this season.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis will host the NEC Tournament on May 12-14 and will await its opponent after the NEC schedule concludes on Monday, May 9 after multiple postponed games on May 7.