TAMPA, Fla. – Saint Francis University softball split its first day at the USF Tournament with a 6-4 win over Marist and 9-3 loss against Penn State.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
» Grace Vesco (6-3) went a complete seven innings and allowed four runs on six hits with seven walks and four strikeouts to earn the win over Marist.
» Ashley Wruble went 4-for-6 with two runs scored, while Rachel Marsden went 2-for-6 with three runs scored.
» Tessa Thompson went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, one home run and four RBIs.
» Marissa Frederick pitched four innings in relief and allowed one unearned run on one hit with four walks and three strikeouts against Penn State.   
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME (PSU)
» Saint Francis jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning behind Thompson's three-run home run with two outs.
» In the bottom half, Penn State scored eight runs behind three singles, one error and one wild pitch to open an 8-3 lead. Each single hit drove in two runs. 
» Penn State added another run in the sixth inning before clinching its 9-3 victory.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME (MAR)
» The Red Flash scored five runs in the first inning without a ball leaving the infield. Olivia Ulam led the scoring on an error, followed by a bases-loaded Thompson hit-by-pitch, Madelyn Wilson single and two runs scoring on an error.
» Marist responded in the top of the second inning with a two-run double that cut the lead to 5-2. After three scoreless innings, the Red Foxes cut the lead to 5-3 with another run on an infield single.
» In the sixth inning, Marsden scored on a Marist fielding error that extended the lead back to three runs, 6-3.
» Marist was able to score one more run on a groundout before Vesco stranded the bases loaded to seal Saint Francis' 6-4 win.

FLASH NUGGETS
» Thompson's home run was her second of the season and she is now second on the team with six runs scored and five RBIs.
» Wruble recorded back-to-back multi-hit games for the second time this season and now has five multi-hit games this season.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns to the field on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. against Florida Gulf Coast.