>> Information on the tournament including live stats and ticketing can be found here. Only the game against South Carolina will be streamed on SEC Network+ through ESPN+.
The Rockets finished the 2024 season with a 26-23 overall record, going 15-10 in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo ended its season with a 9-7 loss to Ball State in the MAC Championships last season.
Eli Enriquez led the Rockets in batting average (.385), runs scored (38), stolen bases (34) and assists (102) last season. Sofia Knight pitched 12 complete games in 2024, appearing in 35. She had a 3.18 ERA and struck out 112 batters. At catcher, Maris Barbato tallied 187 putouts, good for second on the team.
LAST TIME WE MET THE ROCKETS
Saint Francis and Toledo have met seven times for a 3-4 record. The Rockets won the most recent matchup in 2021, winning 3-2 in eight innings.
This is the first of two games between Saint Francis and Toledo, as the two will play each other again in the FIU Classic on Feb. 28.
THE WORD ON EAST CAROLINA
East Carolina earned a 38-19 record in 2024, going 13-14 in the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates season concluded with a 9-1 loss to North Texas in six innings in the AAC Championship tournament.
Emma Jackson and Morgan Johnson were named to the NFCA All-Mideast Region First and Second Teams, respectively. The pair combined for 26 of ECU's 44 home runs in 2024. Jackson recorded 24 doubles, good for second in program history and led the team in batting average (.397), hits (75) and RBIs (50). She was also named to Softball America's Preseason Top 100 this year. Johnson led the team with 254 putouts and tallied 60 hits, 47 RBIs and eight doubles in 2024.
LAST TIME WE MET THE PIRATES
Saint Francis stands at 7-5 against East Carolina. The Pirates won the most recent meeting in 2023.
Olivia Ulam earned an RBI and scored on a wild pitch in that game.
THE WORD ON SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina held a 36-24 record with an 8-16 record in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks concluded their season in the NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 4 Duke 10-1 in the Durham Regional Final. In the offseason, South Carolina hired former Gamecock Ashley Chastain Woodard to be the program's 11th head coach.
South Carolina was picked last in the SEC's preseason poll. Senior shortstop Brooke Blankenship recorded a .242 batting average, tallying 11 RBIs, 20 runs, 72 putouts and 142 assists last season.
LAST TIME WE MET THE GAMECOCKS
 Saint Francis is 0-2 against South Carolina. The two teams met in the 2017 NCAA Tucson Regional, with the Gamecocks winning 3-1 in the Red Flash's final game that season.
THE WORD ON VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers finished the 2024 season 34-20 with a 15-9 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Virginia ended its season with a 6-0 loss to Tennessee in the Knoxville Regional Final. This season, Virginia was picked fifth in the ACC Preseason Poll.
Pitcher Eden Bigham and shortstop Jade Hylton were named to the preseason All-ACC team. Bigham finished last season with 182 strikeouts and a 2.44 ERA with a 16-8 record and three saves. She also earned nine complete games with six complete-game shutouts. Hylton had a .335 batting average with 37 runs, 14 home runs and 41 RBIs.
LAST TIME WE MET THE CAVALIERS
Saint Francis has yet to win against Virginia, currently sitting at 0-2. The Red Flash lost to the Cavaliers 5-2 in 2023.
Olivia Ulam recorded an RBI in the game.
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Francis concluded its 2024 campaign with a 5-1 defeat by Northwestern in the Austin NCAA Regional.
Ashley Wruble drove Lauren Aubry home for the team's lone run of the game.
UP NEXT
Saint Francis will play in the Lakeside Book Company Invitational on Feb. 14-16, hosted by James Madison.
