UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball's comeback effort fell short in extra innings in a 3-2 loss at Penn State.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Grace Vesco (14-7) allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits with seven walks and eight strikeouts.
» Lexi Hernandez went 2-for-3 with one walk and a two-run double in the seventh inning.
» Lauren Aubry, Rachel Marsden and Kaylie Walters all recorded one hit and one walk each.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
» Penn State struck first after scoring a run on a Saint Francis throwing error and took a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
» After two scoreless innings, Saint Francis loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning. Penn State pitcher Brigit Nemeth escaped the jam with a flyout and two strikeouts.
» The Nittany Lions then scored in the bottom of the fifth on a fielder's choice and took a 2-0 lead.
» After Penn State made a pitching change in the seventh inning, Saint Francis had two runners on with two outs. Hernandez drove both runners home with a double that tied the game at two.
» In the bottom half, Penn State loaded the bases with no outs and Vesco escaped with two outs to the infield and a strikeout.
» With no runs scored in the eighth and top of the ninth, Penn State won the game in the bottom half on a wild pitch.
 
FLASH NUGGETS
» Saint Francis saw an 18-game winning streak snap with the loss. It was the longest active winning streak in NCAA Division I heading into Tuesday. It was the longest winning streak by the Red Flash since a 19-game streak in 2018.
» Hernandez has multiple RBIs in four of the last eight games and has 13 during the stretch. She also has three straight two-hit games.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns to the field for a three-game series at Wagner, its final road conference series, April 27-28.