LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball earned a 16-1 run-rule victory in five innings over Central Connecticut to clinch the series sweep and 12-0 start to conference play.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Allie Braly (1-0) pitched 4.0 innings in relief and allowed one run on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts to earn the victory.
» Ashley Orischak went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a three-run home run and five RBIs.
» Lexi Hernandez went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, one home run and four RBIs.
» Olivia Ulam went 2-for-4 with one run scored and four RBIs.
» Kaylie Walters went 1-for-1 with two runs scored, three walks and two steals.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
» Saint Francis started the scoring on a Ulam groundout in the first inning. Hernandez followed with an RBI single and Madelyn Wilson drove in a run on a fielder's choice.
» The Red Flash then rallied for eight two-out runs in the first inning. Rachel Marsden drew a bases loaded walk, followed by a two-run double from Orischak.
» Ulam's second at-bat of the first inning resulted in a three-run double and then Ulam scored two batters later on a Central Connecticut throwing error.
» Hernandez drove in the final run of the first inning on an RBI single that capped off an 11-run opening frame for the Red Flash.
» Orischak extended the Saint Francis lead to 14-0 in the second inning with a three-run home run. Hernandez grew the lead to 16-0 with a two-run home run in the third inning.
» Central Connecticut produced its only run of the game in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout.
» Braly completed her four innings in relief to seal Saint Francis run-rule victory in five innings.
 
FLASH NUGGETS
» Grace Vesco earned the 700th strikeout of her collegiate career during her one inning of work on the mound.
» Braly's win was the first of her collegiate career. She also recorded six strikeouts, which is four more than any other single-game performance for her this season.
» With two steals, Walters now has 21 this season that is tied for second in single-season program history and two away from setting a new program record.
» Head coach Beth Krysiak earned her 100th victory as a collegiate head coach. She has 25 this season with Saint Francis and had 75 at Division III member University of Dallas from 2014-18.
» Hernandez and Orischak each have one home run in back-to-back series.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis is set to host the Northeast Conference's current second-place program Sacred Heart April 13-14.