Softball | 2/5/2026 8:00:00 AM

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 
Saint Francis softball begins the 2026 season in Spartanburg, South Carolina, participating in the Founders Classic from Feb.6-8. The Red Flash is set to face Ohio University, South Carolina Upstate, and Towson, marking their first tests against non-conference competition to start the year.
THE WORD OHIO 
Ohio University is coming off a 37-19 season with an 18-8 record in Mid-American Conference play, finishing second in the regular season. The Bobcats return reigning MAC Pitcher of the Year Skipp Miller and All-MAC selections Brenna Farmer and Abby Kennelly. Leading the team is Jenn Hall, the reigning MAC Coach of the Year.

THE LAST TIME WE MET THE BOBCATS 
This marks just the third encounter with the oldest university in Ohio. The last meeting with the Bobcats was in 2019 during the Hoosier Classic in Bloomington, Indiana. In that matchup, the two teams split the games, with Saint Francis winning the first contest in a 19-18 shootout.

THE WORD UPSTATE 
Upstate finished the 2025 season with a 39-19 record and a 10-8 mark in Big South play, earning an outright conference title. The Spartans bring back 13 players from their championship core and welcome 11 newcomers ahead of the 2026 season. Three key seniors—Taliyah Thomas, Carson Shaw, and Maddie Drerup—who were part of last year's back-to-back championship team, have been named to the Big South Preseason All-Conference team.

THE LAST TIME WE MET SPARTANS 
This is only the second meeting between these two teams, dating back to their first encounter in 2020 at the USC Upstate Spartan Classic, held on the same field where they will compete in the Founders Classic this weekend. The Spartans won the last matchup, defeating the Red Flash 8-1 in the final game of the tournament.

THE WORD TOWSON 
Towson concluded the 2025 season with a 23-29 overall record and an 11-16 mark in the Coastal Athletic Association, finishing eighth in the conference. Head Coach Lisa Costello, entering her 31st season, returns several key players, including All-CAA Second Team honoree Grace Franczyk and CAA All-Rookie member Mackenzie Gorczyca.

THE LAST TIME WE MET THE TIGERS 
In the seventh-ever matchup between these two teams, they are familiar with each other, having faced off for the fourth time since the 2020 season in non-conference tournament play. The last meeting occurred during the 2023 season when the Red Flash earned their first-ever victory over the Tigers in a 3-0 shutout.

NEXT ON DECK 
The Saint Francis softball team is back in action next weekend as it travels to sunny Riverside, California, to participate in the Cal Baptist Invitational. The team will face Utah State, Hawaii, Loyola Marymount, Cal Baptist, and Cal State Bakersfield at John C. Funk Stadium, with the first game scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. EST first pitch.

FLASH QUOTES 
When asked about his outlook for the upcoming 2026 season, Coach Vasko expressed optimism about the team's continued growth. "When I compare our first fall game to where we are now, I'm really encouraged by the progress we've made both on and off the field," he said. "We were picked sixth in the conference preseason poll, which creates an interesting challenge for us as the defending conference tournament champion. We understand the expectations that come with that and the opportunity it presents, and our team has embraced that challenge."

Vasko also highlighted the team's on-field development, noting improvements in execution, consistency, and in-game decision-making. He added that the players are competing at a faster pace, communicating more effectively, demonstrating a stronger understanding of situational softball, and showing improved fundamentals, a more disciplined approach at the plate, and increased confidence and consistency on defense.

Four returners from last season's championship team sat down for personal interviews before the start of the season on Friday, Feb. 7, at the Founders Classic at Cyrill Softball Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Senior catcher Annabelle Farmer was asked how she and the other returning players adjusted to welcoming an essentially new group of players. She responded, "I don't think that this year is any different. I still think the team is meshing together very well. We've kind of hit a groove as a team, not just in position groups where we spend most of our time in the fall. I think it's going similarly to any other year. It's just that the team looks different, but it's still the same environment."

Junior infielder Aliya Garroway shared her perspective on the challenging upcoming non-conference schedule. "I think how we handle adversity is what will prepare us for conference play," Garroway said. "It won't be easy, but facing a higher level of competition will make us better and give us an advantage once conference play begins."

AT THE HELM 
Entering his first season at Loretto, Head Coach Bill Vasko aims to maintain the program's winning tradition as he becomes the 14th head coach in its history. He takes over a program that has won seven of the last eight NEC Tournament titles and has appeared in seven NCAA Division I Regionals. Vasko brings 15 years of collegiate softball coaching experience, including 10 years as a head coach, and 31 years in college athletics.

Upon his hiring, Vasko said, "I'm incredibly honored to be named the softball head coach at Saint Francis. This program has a strong tradition of excellence, and I'm excited to build on that legacy while helping our student-athletes grow both on and off the field. Saint Francis is a special place, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead this program into its next chapter. Our focus will be on developing leaders, continuing the championship culture, and competing with pride every time we take the field."

NEW TO THE LO' 
Late last year, Coach Vasko began building a winning-caliber team capable of competing against any opponent, both inside and outside the NEC. This effort started with the hiring of Abby Doerr and Ryan Bushey to his coaching staff. Coach Doerr brings extensive experience, having played at the highest level for programs including the University of Alabama and Oregon State University. Joining her is Coach Bushey, a graduate assistant who was a four-year infielder on the Mount Aloysius College baseball team, where he played a key role for a Mounties program that consistently competed at the top of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.

THE RETURNERS 
Saint Francis begins the 2026 season with six returners from last year's championship-winning squad, including three CSC Academic All-District award winners: senior Annabelle Farmer, junior Aliya Garroway, and junior Olivia Kolowitz, along with sophomore Morgan Pasternak, senior Haley Brag, and sophomore Sofia Zielinski, who were vital parts of last year's championship team.