SFU Softball heads into championship Saturday unbeaten

BROOKLYN, NY -- History repeated itself for the Red Flash softball team on Friday. For the second season in a row, a Saint Francis hitter knocked in a game-changing grand slam against a semifinal opponent. Last year, Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) performed the feat against Sacred Heart. This season, Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) clipped the Blackbirds' wings to power SFU to a 5-3 triumph.

RECAP

Saint Francis earned a base runner to start the game when Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice and a razor close call at first base ended the opportunity for SFU.

Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) started in the circle for the Red Flash. The senior hurler made quick work of the LIU hitters by setting them down 1-2-3.

The top of the second inning witnessed two singles by Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) and Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) to set up an opportunity but a strikeout and a pop-up ended the Red Flash chance.

LIU Brooklyn obtained two base runners thanks to a walk and single. Bower converted one out but an error allowed LIU to score a run. Bower remained sturdy and prevented any further incursions on the scoreboard.

Saint Francis struck back with a walk by MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), and a double by Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois). A single by Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) appeared to score Saban but she was called out at the plate on a disputed call. LIU decided to intentionally walk Norton and Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) made them pay by launching a monstrous grand slam on the first pitch. Similar to Sierra McKee's (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) blast from a season ago, the entire dynamic of the game was changed by a solitary blow.

LIU Brooklyn got a run back by hitting a double and single to set up the sacrifice fly that scored a run to make it 4-2. Bower, then, recorded two pivotal, straight strikeouts to end the threat and the inning and prevent a momentum shift.

The Red Flash tried to get the run back in the top of the fourth inning but Saban was robbed of a hit and Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) was called out on strikes on a high pitch to end the frame without increasing the margin.

In a savvy tactical decision by Coach O'Donnell, Christina Clark (Avon, Ohio/Avon High School) entered the circle in the bottom of the fourth inning and promptly went to work by inducing a 1-2-3 inning.

Saint Francis had a leadoff runner reach in the top of the fifth inning after Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) drew a walk. Norton hit a slow rolling grounder and the umpire called her out on yet another close call that went against SFU. Two more ground balls ended the inning for SFU.

Clark returned to the circle and continued her scoreless skein in the NEC Tournament with a well-managed inning.

In the top of the sixth inning, SFU added a crucial insurance run. Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) started the inning with a single and Allyn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin High School) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance her to second. MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) was clutch with a laser double down the left field line. 5-2 SFU and the Red Flash obtained breathing room.

LIU Brooklyn got the run back by singling up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Clark's scoreless streak in the NEC Tournament was broken but she kept calm to obtain the third out.

SFU was unable to add any insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Kassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) hit a missile down the third base line but a fine grab by the third baseman grounded the aerial.

The lack of insurance runs did not dismay Clark. She cruised through the Blackbirds' lineup to record three straight groundballs to end the game and send the Red Flash into the championship game on Saturday. Jubilation followed on the field.

UP NEXT

With the victory, Saint Francis advances in the winner's bracket to play Saturday at noon. If the Red Flash win, the tournament concludes with SFU heading to the NCAA Tournament. If the Red Flash lose, a second game will be played afterwards as the NEC Tournament is double elimination.

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