Softball | 3/19/2026 7:00:00 AM
FIRST PITCH
The Saint Francis softball team enters this weekend facing another NEC opponent, the CCSU Blue Devils. After securing their first win of the season last weekend, the Red Flash looks to continue trusting the process and capture another victory in conference play, starting Saturday, March 21, with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
NEW HAVEN SCOUTING REPORTÂ
Heading into the 2026 season, the Blue Devils arrive in Loretto with a 7-8 record after sweeping a recent three-game series against NEC opponent Fairleigh Dickinson. Central Connecticut State University enters this weekend with a team batting average of .281, having recorded 112 hits, including 11 home runs and 34 doubles in 399 at-bats. The hottest bat in the Blue Devils' lineup is senior infielder Grace Lawton, who boasts a .426 batting average with four home runs, 20 hits, and 12 runs batted in.
LAST TIME WE PLAYED THE BLUE DEVILS
The last time the Red Flash faced CCSU on the diamond was in the 2025 season semifinals. In that game, the Red Flash claimed a 3-2 victory to advance to the NEC championship game.
HEAD TO HEAD
Entering this weekend's matchup, the Red Flash have faced the Blue Devils 43 times, with Saint Francis leading the all-time series 30-13. At home, the Red Flash holds a 14-5 record when CCSU comes to town.
NEXTÂ ON DECK
The Saint Francis softball team returns to action Thursday, March 26, as the Red Flash travel to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, to face the Bucknell Bison in a doubleheader at Becker Field, with the first pitch at 3 p.m.
AT THE HELMÂ
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 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'Â
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. They are joined by sophomore Morgan Pasternak, senior Haley Brag, and sophomore Sofia Zielinski, all of whom were vital to last year's championship team.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCKÂ
Despite the key contributions of last year's championship-winning team, Coach Vasko made several additions to the lineup to make a difference. Saint Francis welcomes a strong freshman class, including Olivia Holtzman (York, Pennsylvania, Central York), Sophia Rabatin (Lilly, Pennsylvania, Penn Cambria), Olivia Hood (New Castle, Pennsylvania, New Castle), Ella Zoss, and Zoe Kesterson (Charles Town, West Virginia, Washington).
