LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball earned a 1-0 victory in nine innings over Merrimack on Senior Day to clinch a perfect 24-0 conference record this season.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Grace Vesco (17-7) threw 9.0 shutout innings and allowed two hits with four walks and a career-high 15 strikeouts.
» Lauren Aubry drove home the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly.
» Rachel Marsden scored the game-winning run and added one walk.
» Lexi Hernandez, Kaylie Walters and Ashley Wruble each recorded one hit.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
» Through seven scoreless innings, Vesco and Merrimack pitcher Madie Fornwalt combined to allowed just six hits. Vesco recorded 12 strikeouts through the first seven frames.
» Merrimack had two runners on with two outs in the eighth inning before Vesco earned a strikeout to end the top half. Wruble doubled with two outs in the bottom of the eighth but the inning ended on a groundout.
» In the bottom of the ninth, the first two Red Flash players walked before Madelyn Wilson advanced the runners on a groundout. Aubry hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Marsden that ended the game and clinched Saint Francis' perfect conference record.
 
FLASH NUGGETS
» The 2024 team joined the 2017 (16-0) and 2018 (16-0) teams as the only ones to produce and undefeated conference season.
» Saint Francis and Boston University (18-0) were the only Division I programs with an undefeated conference season in 2024. Miami (Ohio) and Prairie View both had one conference loss.
» Vesco set a new career high with 15 strikeouts that broke her previous mark of 14 set last season on March 4 against George Mason. It was the 16th double-digit strikeout game of her career.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis is set to host the Northeast Tournament May 9-11 and will draw No. 4 Central Connecticut in its opener on Thursday, May 9 at 12 p.m.