LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball's
Grace Vesco was named Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Week in the final selection of the 2024 season, the conference announced on Monday. She was joined by
Rachel Marsden,
Ashley Orischak and
Kaylie Walters as NEC Prime Performers.
Vesco, a graduate student, went 2-0 and allowed no runs on four hits with five walks and 23 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched to help Saint Francis sweep its series against Merrimack. Vesco fired 15 strikeouts in a nine-inning victory to end the regular season, which set a new career high.
She finished the conference regular season first with a 0.44 ERA, 12 wins, .103 batting average against and second with 103 strikeouts. Her 178 strikeouts overall are currently fifth in single-season program history and 23rd in the NCAA Division I.
Marsden, a graduate student, went 3-for-8 with two runs scored, one double, a two-run home run and went 1-0 in her only start with one run on five hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts. She scored the walk-off run on a
Lauren Aubry sacrifice fly in the ninth inning of the season finale to help Saint Francis clinch its undefeated conference season.
Orischak, a senior, went 4-for-9 with three runs scored, two doubles, one triples and one RBI in the series sweep over Merrimack. During game one of the series, Orischak produced the second three-hit game of her collegiate career.
Walters, a freshman, went 3-for-6 with three runs scored, one RBI and five walks to carry a .727 on-base percentage. She also went 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts. She reached base safely at least twice in all-three games. Her walk total for the season raised to 38, which is fourth in single-season program history.
The Pitcher of the Week was Vesco's fourth of the season and her Prime Performer was the 11th of the year. She was a Prime Performer in all-eight weeks of conference play. Marsden earned her seventh Prime Performer, Orischak earned her third and Walters earned her second.
Saint Francis gears up to host the NEC Tournament May 9-11 and will start against No. 4 Central Connecticut on Thursday, May 9 at 12 p.m.
