| PENN STATE vs. SAINT FRANCIS | | | | 7-30 (3-11, B1G) | 24-17 (6-0, NEC) |
| Wednesday, April 18 | Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field University Park, Pa. | Tickets |
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April 17, 2018
PENN STATE POISED FOR MID-WEEK DOUBLEHEADER WITH SFU
The Penn State softball team welcomes Saint Francis for a mid-week non-conference doubleheader Wednesday, April 18 at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. The two teams will take the field for a 5 p.m. first pitch before playing game two approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one.
CATCHING THE GAMES FROM HOME
Fans who cannot make it out to Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field can catch all the action live by following along with live Twitter updates @PennStateSB while also following live stats at GoPSUsports.com and watching live on BTN Plus with a paid subscription.
SERIES HISTORY WITH THE RED FLASH
Penn State holds the decisive 33-6 all-time series advantage over in-state foe Saint Francis, but the Red Flash have started to build on its wins taking both games in the 2017 campaign. Penn State swept the doubleheader in the 2016 campaign and the two teams split in the 2015 season. Last season, the Nittany Lions took a 2-0 setback in game one as Tori Dubois tallied the only hit of the game. In game two, the Blue and White were again kept to one hit. Madison Shaffer pitched a gem, going all eight innings in the 1-0 loss with four strikeouts.
SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS
The Red Flash, under seventh year head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift, hold a 24-17 overall record and are 6-0 to open conference play. Saint Francis is hitting .251 as a team and keeping opponents at a .227 batting average. Madison Cabell and Sierra McKee are the two Red Flash hitters with batting averages over .300, hitting .325 and .314, respectively. Cabell has a team-best 41 hits, which includes eight doubles, one triple, and 12 home runs, while she has driven in 40 RBI in 41 appearances. McKee has driven in 20 runs on the year on 38 hits with eight doubles and five home runs. The Red Flash also have speed on the base path, having stolen 40 bases on 49 attempts. Jordan Seneca, who bats in the six hole for Saint Francis, has stolen 15 bases on 16 attempts this season as she carries a .403 on-base percentage with 31 walks on the season. The Red Flash have two different looks in the circle with Abby Trahan and Adrian Smith. Trahan has taken on the majority of the work load in the circle, throwing 182.1 innings in 33 appearances and 26 starts, while Smith has only thrown 86.2 innings in the season.
DUBOIS PROVIDING POWER IN THE LINEUP
Junior Tori Dubois has been one of the top hitters for the Nittany Lion offense the past two seasons and her recent move to the leadoff position has proved to be no different. The Mt. Vernon, New Hampshire native blasted home runs in back-to-back games for the Nittany Lions against Michigan State. Dubois also is hitting .370 when she is the first batter of the inning and .500 when bases are loaded. Furthermore, Dubois is 12-for-35 with runners in scoring position to hold a .343 batting average. Finally, the starting left fielder is on a team-best six-game hitting streak and nine-game reached base streak heading into the doubleheader.
GRIECO STEPS UP
Sophomore walk-on Amanda Grieco was given the opportunity to pinch hit with runners in scoring position against Michigan Friday, April 6. The Basking Ridge, New Jersey native dug in and roped a double into the left center field gap, bringing in both of Penn State runs against the Wolverines. The extra-base hit marked the first of her career donning the Blue and White. Grieco has since earned the start at second base and is on a five-game reached base streak for the Nittany Lions. The starting second baseman had two hits and brought in two runs for the Blue and White in game one of the three-game series against the Spartans.
COMFORTABLE AT HOME
The Nittany Lions have seen five of their seven wins come inside the friendly confines of Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. Penn State picked up the series victory against Kent State before earning one win against Maryland, Robert Morris, and Michigan State.
LEHOTAK TALLIES WIN NO. 100 AT PENN STATE
With Penn State's series opening win over Maryland, head coach Amanda Lehotak picked up her 100th win at Penn State. Furthermore, the win marked the 289th career win for the Lehotak. Lehotak is in her fifth season with the Nittany Lions, leading Penn State to a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal appearance in 2017 and a semifinal appearance in 2016. Under Lehotak's tenure, the Blue and White had its most successful season in 2016 since 2011, winning 30 games and finishing fourth in the Big Ten Conference. The team has also broken multiple hitting and pitching records in her five seasons with the Nittany Lions.
ON DECK
Penn State hits the road for a three-game Big Ten Conference series with Indiana Friday, April 20-Sunday, April 22.
