NEC Tournament Headquarters | SFU Tournament Game Notes

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University softball is set to host the 2024 Northeast Conference Tournament that features No. 2 LIU, No. 3 Sacred Heart and No. 4 Central Connecticut from May 9-11. The Red Flash kick off the tournament against Central Connecticut on Thursday, May 9 at 12 p.m.
 
Saint Francis Quick Hits
» The Red Flash finished the 2024 conference season 24-0, which marked its most conference wins in program history and third undefeated conference season. Saint Francis joined Boston University (18-0) as the only two Division I program undefeated in conference this season.
» Grace Vesco leads Division I with 2.97 hits allowed per seven innings and ranks fifth with a 1.17 ERA. She also ranked 23rd in the country with 178 strikeouts, which is fifth in single-season program history. She led the NEC with a 0.44 ERA during conference play and allowed just five earned runs in 79.0 innings pitched across 14 appearances.
» Rachel Marsden ranks 42nd in the country with a 1.70 ERA that is second in the conference. She ranks seventh in the conference with 118 strikeouts. She adds a .322 batting average, three triples, six home runs and 24 RBIs at the plate that all rank top-five on Saint Francis.
» Olivia Ulam leads the Northeast Conference with 38 runs scored, 18 doubles and 50 RBIs. Her doubles are tied for 15th in the country and her RBIs are tied for 41st. During conference play, she led the NEC with 22 runs scored, eight doubles, 34 RBIs and ranked second with a .449 batting average and .500 on-base percentage. She recorded at least one RBI in 17 of the 24 conference games and recorded multiple RBIs in 11.
» Ashley Orischak leads Division I with 25 hit by pitches and is 14th with a .530 on-base percentage. She leads the NEC with a .368 batting average and on-base percentage. She also paced the league in batting average (.489) and on-base percentage (.627) during conference play.
» Kaylie Walters is 16th in the country with 29 stolen bases and is tied for third among Division I freshmen. She ranks 17th in the country and leads freshmen with 0.78 walks per game. Her 38 total walks this season rank fourth in single-season program history. She already holds the program record in stolen bases in a season.
» Savannah Nash ranked top five in the NEC in runs (35), RBIs (42) and stolen bases (14).
 
NEC Tournament Notes
Saint Francis earned the right to host the NEC Tournament for fourth consecutive season and sixth time in the last seven. Three of the four teams in the 2024 tournament participated last season with Sacred Heart being the new addition. LIU is the reigning NEC Champion after defeating Merrimack last season and will participate in the postseason for a sixth consecutive year. Central Connecticut qualified for the second straight year, while Sacred Heart qualified for the first time since 2021.
 
Scouting No. 2 LIU
The Sharks earned the second seed in the NEC Tournament after a 17-7 conference season and is 32-19 overall. LIU enters the tournament with victories in eight of its last nine games. Dallas Andrews paces the program with a .358 batting average, 31 runs scored, .407 on-base percentage and seven stolen bases – all marks that are top-10 in the NEC. Alexia Castro adds a program-high 23 RBIs and Alyssa Polemeni leads with five home runs. Alyssa O'Donnell leads the pitching staff with a 2.52 ERA, while Lindsey Cowans leads with 17 wins, 128 strikeouts and a .223 batting average against in 180.2 innings pitched. LIU ranks second in the conference with a .264 batting average and 2.54 ERA, both marks that only trail Saint Francis.
 
Scouting No. 3 Sacred Heart
The Pioneers hold the third seed in the NEC Tournament after a 16-8 conference mark and is 26-27 overall. Carly Koltko leads the team with a .318 batting average, 29 RBIs and ranks second on the team with seven home runs. Victoria LoPinto paces the Pioneers with 30 runs scored, eight home runs and is third with 23 RBIs. Emily Heath leads the pitching staff with a 2.56 ERA and .242 batting average against in 150.1 innings pitched. Sam Kowalski adds a 2.95 ERA with a team-high 14 wins and 150 strikeouts in 163.2 innings pitched. Sacred Heart is fourth in the NEC with a 3.30 ERA and fifth with a .254 batting average.
 
Scouting No. 4 Central Connecticut
The Blue Devils took the final spot in the NEC Tournament with a 13-11 conference record and went 26-17 overall. Central Connecticut qualified for the tournament after a 2-1 series victory over Stonehill to jump over Merrimack, who finished the season being swept at Saint Francis. Paige Stringer paces the NEC with 12 home runs and is third with a .358 batting average and 36 runs scored. KC Machado added a .330 batting average, nine home runs and 32 RBIs. Kaylee Whittaker led the program with a 2.70 ERA, 117 strikeouts and .207 batting average against in 140 innings pitched. Liz Hamilton added a 2.90 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 101.1 innings pitched. The Blue Devils are third in the NEC with a .261 batting average and 3.04 ERA.
 
All-Time vs. No. 2 LIU
LIU holds a 47-36 record over Saint Francis, but the Red Flash have defeated LIU in 16 of the last 20 meetings. Saint Francis swept LIU this season by a 19-6 scoring margin and included a 9-1 run-rule victory in six innings in game three. Saint Francis is 11-10 against LIU in the NEC Tournament.  
 
All-Time vs. No. 3 Sacred Heart
Saint Francis owns a 31-18 record over Sacred Heart, which included a series sweep by a 27-6 scoring margin. The weekend featured two run-run Red Flash victories. Saint Francis has won 15 of the last 20 meetings dating back to 2016. Saint Francis is 3-0 against Sacred Heart in the NEC Tournament.
 
All-Time vs. No. 4 Central Connecticut
Saint Francis holds a 37-20-1 record over Central Connecticut and swept the Blue Devils by a 24-2 scoring margin this season. The series concluded with a 16-1 Red Flash victory in five innings. Saint Francis has defeated Central Connecticut in 21 of the last 22 meetings dating back to 2016. The streak included a 2-1 win over the Blue Devils in last season's NEC Tournament. Saint Francis is 2-0 over Central Connecticut in the NEC Tournament.

Next
The winner of the NEC Tournament will advance to the NCAA Regionals May 16-19. The winner will find out its regional assignment during the NCAA Softball Selection Show on Sunday, May 12 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

2024 NEC Tournament Schedule Format
Thursday, May 9
Game 1 - #1 Saint Francis vs. #4 Central Connecticut (12 p.m.)
Game 2 - #2 LIU vs. #3 Sacred Heart (3 p.m.)

Friday, May 10
Game 3 - Winner G1 vs. Winner G2 (10 a.m.)
Game 4 - Loser G1 vs. Loser G2 (1 p.m.)
Game 5 - Winner G4 vs. Loser G3 (4 p.m.)

Saturday, May 11
Game 6 - Winner G3 vs. Winner G5 (12 p.m.)
Game 7 - If Necessary (2:30 p.m.)