Ann Arbor, MI -- The Saint Francis softball team fell 8-0 to Michigan in NCAA Regional play on Friday. The Red Flash has opportunities but a combination of tough luck and fielding prevented SFU from capitalizing.
To start the game, Saint Francis obtained an early baserunner whenCheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) golfed a single into center field. She stole second after a bizarre play when the Michigan catcher fell down when returning the ball to the pitcher. Unfortunately, Norton was fanned and the opportunity passed by.
Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) started in the circle for the Red Flash and promptly induced two groundball outs to Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois). A two-out single marred the streak butSierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) ended the first with a fly ball.
Saint Francis was retired in order in the top of the second inning asKassidy Troxell (Navarre, Ohio/Perry) flied out to the warning track, Mikayla Bower (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) struck out, and Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) fouled out.
Michigan threatened in the bottom of the second inning with two singles. Bower worked the count and got Natalia Rodriguez to hit a line drive to Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) for the final out.
For the second consecutive inning, Saint Francis was set down in order. Allyn Bezjak (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin High School) struck out swinging, Tavyen Rousseau lined out to right field, and MeKenzie Saban (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) smacked a grounder to third base.
Michigan broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the third inning. A collection of hits provided Michigan with an opportunity. The Wolverines scored their first run on a RBI groundout to second. The second run came on a double by Nemitz. Bower got the second out via the swing and miss but a mishandled grounder by Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) scored two runs to make it 4-0. Saban recorded the final out via groundball but the damage was dealt.
The Red Flash placed a baserunner when Hayley Norton (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) singled through the middle with two outs. Unfortunately, Troxell's sharply struck line drive went right to a Michigan glove.
Christina Clark (Avon, Ohio/Avon High School) entered the circle to start the fourth inning and she promptly went to work silencing the Wolverine bats. The third out of the inning came on a great grab by Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) in center field. The DuBois native continued off the impetus from the championship win against LIU Brooklyn when she made an all-time catch to rob the Blackbirds.
The Red Flash tried to use the momentum from the catch to power the hitting side but to no avail. Bower struck out, Frank slammed a ball to the warning track that stayed in as the humidity and weather intervened, and Crawford, pinch hitting, went down swinging.
Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) made another SportsCenter Top Ten catch in the bottom of the fifth inning but Michigan scored a run on a single and double. Clark retired the Wolverines with a perfect pitch to earn the called third strike.
In the top of the sixth inning, Saban singled and Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) walked to set up an opportunity for the Red Flash.Sierra McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois) went down swinging and Hayley Norton's (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) earmarked for RBI line drive was robbed by a fortunate catch by the right fielder.
Michigan ended the game in six innings by scoring three runs in the bottom frame. A solo home run by Rodriguez commenced the scoring. A single, double, and walk loaded the bases. A hit by pitch scored the seventh run. The game ended on a sacrifice fly to Jordan Frank (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic). Michigan scored its eighth run to invoke the run rule for an 8-0 win.
Up Next
The Red Flash duel fellow Catholic school DePaul in the elimination game tomorrow at 2:30 pm. Television is still to be determined but the game will be streamed on ESPN3.