LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball earned two big victories over LIU 4-1 in game one and 6-4 in game two.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Grace Vesco (9-6) went a complete 7.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts in game one.
» Rachel Marsden (11-5) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched during game two. She also went 2-for-3 with a double, solo home run and two RBIs.
» Allie Braly earned her third save of the season after she recorded the final three outs and left the bases loaded.
» Lauren Aubry went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, one walk and was hit by a pitch to carry a .833 on-base percentage.
» Ashley Orischak and Ashley Wruble each hit a home run in game one.
 
TURNING POINTS OF GAME ONE
» LIU loaded the bases with one out in the first inning, but Vesco recorded back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam.
» Orischak started the game's scoring with a two-out three-run home run in the second inning for a 3-0 Red Flash lead.
» Wruble followed in the third inning with a solo home run that extended the lead to 4-0.
» After three scoreless innings followed, LIU loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning. The Sharks produced one run on a groundout before Vesco shut the door and clinched Saint Francis' 4-1 win.
 
TURNING POINTS OF GAME TWO
» Saint Francis started the scoring after Kaylie Walters scored on a Savannah Nash infield single in the first inning. After a scoreless second inning, an Olivia Ulam RBI groundout and Lexi Hernandez RBI single extended the lead to 3-0.
» The Red Flash added two more runs in the fourth on a Marsden solo home run and Orischak RBI double and opened a 5-0 lead.
» LIU responded in the fifth inning with a two-run single and cut the deficit to 5-2. Marsden got one run back on an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth and extended the lead back to four, 6-2.
» The Sharks led off the sixth inning with a solo home run and cut the deficit to 6-3.
» In the seventh inning, LIU had two runners on base before Braly replaced Marsden. After a walk to load the bases, Saint Francis recorded one out before LIU scored a run on a fielder's choice and cut the deficit to 6-4.
» Orischak then produced a force at home for the second out before Braly fielded a ground ball and recorded the final out.
 
FLASH NUGGETS
» Braly's three saves this season are tied for the most by a Red Flash player in a single season over the last 10 years.
» Orischak hit her first collegiate home run and is now 9-for-15 (.600) with four runs, two doubles, one home run and six RBIs through the first eight conference games.
» Wruble hit her first home run of the season and fifth of her collegiate career.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis and LIU conclude the series on Saturday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m.