Feb. 22, 2009
Smith’s Gem Leads Red Flash To First Win of 2009 Season
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Saint Francis jumped out to a 4-0 lead and junior pitcher Jerrica Smith (Breezewood, Pa. / Everett) made it hold to lead the Red Flash softball team to its first victory of the season, 4-2, versus Big East foe Seton Hall on Sunday, at the First Pitch Classic.
SFU had suffered four straight defeats to open the season, including two in the opposing team’s final at-bat, but the Red Flash overcame adversity to beat a team from the Big East for second straight season. Saint Francis swept a doubleheader versus Pittsburgh last season.
Smith gave up two runs, both unearned, on four hits while striking out five and walking just one. Five different players claimed the five hits for SFU, led by junior Jamie Dixon (Revloc, Pa. / Central Cambria) with an RBI single in the first inning, and senior Janelle McCoy (New Paris, Pa. / Chestnut Ridge) with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and a single later in the game.
The Red Flash took advantage of two Pirates errors in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Junior Kelly Cortese (Coatesville, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan) reached on an error and advanced to third base on a single by senior Kelly Slingwine (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine Richland), who later stole second base. Senior Nicole Waligora (Johnstown, Pa. / Westmont Hilltop) then reached on another error to plate Cortese with the game’s first run. Dixon then stroked a single to centerfield to score Slingwine.
Junior Christina Aulbach (York, Pa. / Dallastown Area) led off the second inning with the game’s only extra base hit, a double through the left side. She went to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Smith, and scored on McCoy’s sacrifice fly to make it 3-0, Red Flash. Saint Francis manufactured its final run of the game after freshman Katie McMellen (Kingsville, Ohio / Edgewood) worked a two-out walk. Cortese singled to centerfield to move McMellen 90-feet away from home plate. McMellen then went home on a double steal to give SFU a 4-0 edge through two innings.
Seton Hall (2-7) plated two runs in the fourth inning, but Smith kept the Pirates in check the rest of the way.
Saint Francis (1-4) will compete this weekend and next week at the Florida Gulf Coast University Tournament, and another tournament in Orlando, Fla., respectively. The Red Flash will face Dartmouth and Florida Gulf Coast on Friday, and Bryant and Colgate on Saturday.