Softball | 4/24/2026 1:44:00 PM
FIRST PITCH
As the 2026 season nears its conclusion, Saint Francis softball aims to finish the home schedule on a strong note with a final series at Lo, facing LIU's Sharks in a rematch of the 2025 NEC Championship game. Game one of this three-game series is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at 11 a.m.
LIUÂ SCOUTING REPORTÂ
After losing to Saint Francis in the NEC Championship game, the Sharks finished the season with an overall record of 26-23 and a 16-5 mark in NEC games. They were predicted to finish first in the NEC according to the preseason poll. Under new head coach Rich Calvert, this year's roster features 12 returning players from the 2025 season, including All-NEC award winners: junior Kaylee Clarkson (first team), junior Lily Hinkle (first team), junior Sophia Mariottini (second team), senior Alyssa Garcia (second team), and sophomore Hannah Burnett (all-rookie team).
LAST TIME WE PLAYED THE SHARKSÂ Â
As previously mentioned, the last time these two NEC teams faced off was last May in the conference championship game, where the Red Flash shut out LIU, 6-0, to win the Northeast Conference Championship, earning their seventh title in eight years. In that game, players Sofia Zielinski, a sophomore, and Aliya Garroway, a junior, recorded pivotal hits.
HEAD TO HEAD
In the head-to-head matchup between these two programs, the Sharks currently lead, having won 50 of the 87 matchups since the 1988 season.
NEXTÂ ON DECK
Saint Francis softball wraps up the 2026 season with a final home series in Staten Island, NY, as they take on NEC foe Wagner. The three-game series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 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.
BY THE NUMBERSÂ
Throughout the season, the Red Flash have demonstrated their prowess with the long ball, ranking second in the NEC with 36 home runs. Saint Francis also ranks among the conference's top five in several offensive categories:Â hits (fourth, 276), runs (fifth, 165), RBIs (fifth, 153), total bases (second, 433), and slugging percentage (second, .409).
THE ARIZONAÂ ACE
At the center of the Saint Francis offensive attack is sophomore Sofia Zielinski, who currently leads the team in six categories: batting average (.454), hits (49), home runs (10), total bases (87), and slugging percentage (.806). 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 NECÂ title, Saint Francis was selected to finish sixth out of nine teams in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
THE RETURNERSÂ
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).
