Saint Francis Red Flash softball

The Saint Francis Red Flash softball team represents Saint Francis University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Northeast Conference (NEC). The Red Flash are currently led by head coach Beth Krysiak. The team plays its home games at Red Flash Softball Field, which is located on the college's campus.[3]

Saint Francis Red Flash
UniversitySaint Francis University
Head coachBeth Krysiak (1st season)
ConferenceNEC
LocationLoretto, PA
Home stadiumRed Flash Softball Field
NicknameRed Flash
ColorsRed and white[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Regular Season Conference championships
2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023[2]
For information on all Saint Francis University sports, see Saint Francis Red Flash

History

After nearly four decades of minimal success, the Red Flash rose to prominence in the Northeast Conference after the hiring of former coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift and current head coach Jessica O'Donnell. Patrick-Swift left the team after the 2018 season.[4][5] The program won five NEC tournament championships from 2017 to 2022, as the 2020 NEC tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program also won the NEC regular season championship in 2017, 2018, and from 2021 until 2023. By winning the NEC tournament, the program qualified for the NCAA Division I softball tournament.[6][7]

In the 2017 NCAA tournament, the Red Flash won their first NCAA tournament game in program history, defeating New Mexico State by a score of 8-4 before being eliminated from the tournament by South Carolina.[8][9] As of 2023, it is their only win as they were eliminated in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 without winning a game and scoring only six runs in eight total games.

In 2021, former third baseman Mekenzie Saban was named to Softball America's All-American Third-team.[10] In 2022, Saban was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year, while pitcher Rachel Marsden was named Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Year.[11]

On June 21, 2023, head coach Jessica O'Donnell announced her departure from the program to become the head coach of Kent State.[12][13] Beth Krysiak was named as the new Red Flash head coach on August 9, 2023.[14]

Coaching history
Years Coach Record %
1986–1990Tom Cicero67–85.441
1991–1993Terry Bennett27–51.346
1994–1998Rudy Galayda93–122–2.433
1999Christy Cameron16–28.364
2000Missy Radaker22–20.524
2001Brock Radaker19–24.442
2002Michelle Kozak28–24–1.538
2003–2004Laura Cymmerman22–62.262
2005–2006Erin Layton29–74.282
2007–2011Sabrina Lane87–172.336
2012–2018Jennifer Patrick-Swift226–152.598
2019–2023Jessica O’Donnell137–101.576
2024–presentBeth Krysiak0–0–

[15]

Roster
2024 Saint Francis Red Flash roster
 

Pitchers

  • 5 – Allie Braly – Freshman
  • 7 – Olivia Kolowitz – Freshman
  • 24 – Rachel Marsden – Graduate Student
  • 9 – Grace Vesco – Graduate Student

Catchers

  • 27 – Annabelle Farmer – Freshman

Outfielders

  • 11 – Lauren Aubry – Graduate Student
  • 22 – Sydney Baker – Senior
  • 15 – Savannah Nash – Sophomore
  • 12 – Ashley Wruble – Graduate Student
  

Infielders

  • 20 – Brianna Sawyers – Sophomore
  • 17 – Olivia Ulam – Junior

Utility

  • 2 – Hannah Bendle – Freshman
  • 25 – Aliya Garroway – Freshman
  • 19 – Lexi Hernandez – Senior
  • 28 – Madelynn Kessler – Freshman
  • 10 – Ashley Orischak – Senior
  • 26 – Kaylie Walters – Freshman
  • 3 – Madelyn Wilson – Freshman
  
Reference:[16]

Season by season results
Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Saint Francis Red Flash (Northeast Conference) (1986–present)
1986 Tom Cicero 6–21
1987 Tom Cicero 9–20
1988 Tom Cicero 19–16
1989 Tom Cicero 17–10
1990 Tom Cicero 16–18
1991 Terry Bennett 7–22
1992 Terry Bennett 8–14
1993 Terry Bennett 12–15
1994 Rudy Galayda 11–264–3
1995 Rudy Galayda 15–24–17–9
1996 Rudy Galayda 13–316–10
1997 Rudy Galayda 21–249–7
1998 Rudy Galayda 33–17–17–2–13rd[17]
1999 Christy Cameron 16–286–128th
2000 Missy Radaker 22–2011–95th
2001 Brock Radaker 19–2412–85th
2002 Michelle Kozak 28–24–112–9–14th
2003 Laura Cymmerman 14–2911–105th
2004 Laura Cymmerman 8–336–12T–9th
2005 Erin Layton 9–394–1310th
2006 Erin Layton 20–358–10T–6th
2007 Sabrina Lane 17–353–159th
2008 Sabrina Lane 24–3411–63rd
2009 Sabrina Lane 21–305–118th
2010 Sabrina Lane 15–353–1210th
2011 Sabrina Lane 10–382–1611th
2012 Jennifer Patrick-Swift 22–269–117th
2013 Jennifer Patrick-Swift 25–306–149th
2014 Jennifer Patrick-Swift 26–238–85th
2015 Jennifer Patrick-Swift 31–199–75th
2016 Jennifer Patrick-Swift 34–2413–32nd
2017 Jennifer Patrick-Swift 49–1116–01stNCAA Regionals
2018 Jennifer Patrick-Swift 39–1916–01stNCAA Regionals
2019 Jessica O’Donnell 29–3110–63rdNCAA Regionals
2020 Jessica O’Donnell 5–180–0N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Jessica O’Donnell 40–1022–21stNCAA Regionals
2022 Jessica O’Donnell 37–1820–41stNCAA Regionals
2023 Jessica O’Donnell 26–2415–61st
2024 Beth Krysiak 0–00–0
Total:773–915–3 (.458)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[15][2]

See also

References
  1. SFU Athletics Style Guide (PDF). May 11, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  2. "NEC Softball History". northeastconference.org.
  3. "Facilities". Saint Francis University Athletics.
  4. "NC State Hired Jennifer Patrick-Swift As Head Softball Coach - FloSoftball". www.flosoftball.com.
  5. Shambaugh, Jaclyn. "Former Methodist star Patrick-Swift takes over N.C. State softball". The Fayetteville Observer.
  6. "Saint Francis Wins Fourth-Consecutive NEC Tournament Championship | Saint Francis University". www.francis.edu.
  7. "Softball Wins Fifth Straight Northeast Conference Championship". Saint Francis University Athletics.
  8. Sun-News, Mark Rudi, Las Cruces. "NMSU softball's season comes to an end with loss to St. Francis in NCAA Regionals". Las Cruces Sun-News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. "New Mexico St. vs St. Francis (PA) DI Softball Game Summary - May 20th, 2017 | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  10. Staff, S. A. "2021 NCAA Division I All-Americans". www.softballamerica.com.
  11. "SFU's Mekenzie Saban & Rachel Marsden #NECElite Softball Major Award Winners". northeastconference.org.
  12. Tribune-Democrat, The (June 22, 2023). "St. Francis' O'Donnell accepts softball coaching job at Kent State". The Tribune-Democrat.
  13. "Jessica O'Donnell Named Head Softball Coach". Kent State Golden Flashes. June 21, 2023.
  14. "Beth Krysiak Named Saint Francis Softball Head Coach". Saint Francis University Athletics. August 9, 2023.
  15. "Softball Record Book (PDF)" (PDF). Saint Francis University Athletics.
  16. "2024 Softball Roster". Saint Francis University Athletics.
  17. "NEC Softball Standings (1998-2022)". northeastconference.org.
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