Softball | 4/10/2026 7:00:00 AM
FIRST PITCH
Coming off a midweek clash with NEC foe Mercyhurst, the Red Flash not only secured their third win of the season but also exploded for 17 runs on 22 hits, further underscoring the offensive potential of this Saint Francis lineup. With the season inching toward the homestretch, the Red Flash aim to stay hot at the plate as they head into this weekend's three-game series against the Stonehill Skyhawks, which opens Saturday, April 11, with a doubleheader and a first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
STONEHILL SCOUTING REPORT
Coming off a 16–34 campaign in 2025, which included a 5–13 mark in NEC play, Stonehill was selected to finish just below the Red Flash in seventh place out of nine teams in the preseason poll. Entering this weekend with a 3–9 conference record, Head Coach Ali Maloof leads a lineup anchored by several key returners.
Sophomore Taylor Schoonmaker currently paces the offense with a .373 batting average, collecting 25 hits over 28 games while driving in nine runs. Other notable contributors for the Skyhawks include two-way junior Harper Sulli, who leads the team with two home runs, and sophomore utility player Sarah Taylor, who tops the roster with 23 RBIs.
LAST TIME WE PLAYED THE SKYHAWKS
The last meeting between the two programs came just last season, when Stonehill traveled to Loretto, Pa., for a three-game series. In the finale, the Red Flash topped their NEC foe, 10–6.
HEAD TO HEAD
With that final victory in Loretto, Saint Francis pushed its winning streak over Stonehill to nine games, having taken every meeting between the programs since the start of the 2023 season.
NEXT ON DECK
The Saint Francis softball team returns to Loretto for a midweek non-conference doubleheader against the Morgan State Bears, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. in Loretto, Pa.
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 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.
BY THE NUMBERS
Throughout the season, the Red Flash have demonstrated their prowess with the long ball, ranking second in the NEC with 30 home runs. Saint Francis also ranks among the conference's top five in several offensive categories: hits (fourth, 230), runs (third, 141), RBIs (third, 130), total bases (tied for second, 364), and slugging percentage (second, .412).
THE ACE AT FIRST BASE
At the center of the Saint Francis offensive attack is sophomore Sofia Zielinski, who currently leads the team in six categories: batting average (.461), hits (41), home runs (10), total bases (79), slugging percentage (.888), and runs scored (25). She has accounted for 25 of the Red Flash's 142 total runs, ranking second on the team. Earlier this season, she broke her personal single-season best of nine home runs and became just the 19th player in program history to hit 10 or more homers in a season, dating back to 1999.
PRE-SEASON POLL
Entering the 2026 season as the reigning champions after winning their second consecutive NEC title, Saint Francis was selected to finish sixth out of nine teams in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
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 BLOCK
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).
