Saint Francis University baseball opened the year by sweeping three games from Bloomsburg University. They won the opening game on Saturday, September 20, 2014 by a score of 9-3 behind the strong pitching of Troy Templeton (junior physician assistant major from Forest Hills High School and Summerhill, PA), who gave up two runs, one earned, in six innings while striking out five.  Three Red Flash players had two hits including Josh Vinglish (sophomore environmental engineering major from Penn Cambria  High School and Cresson, PA), Sean Donegan (freshman physical therapy major from Hershey High School in Hershey, PA), and Nick Rittle (sophomore physician assistant major from North Hills High School in Pittsburgh, PA); Vinglish and Rittle also drove in two runs.  And two Red Flash scored two runs including Nevin Pagan (sophomore occupational therapy major from Lancaster Catholic High School in Lancaster, PA) and John Sheesley (sophomore biology/pre-professional major from Blacklick Valley High School in Nanty Glo, PA).

In the second game on Saturday, Nate Sanders (senior criminal justice major from Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona, PA) pitched the first 5 and 2/3 innings, giving up only three earned runs, and then gave the Red Flash a 4-3 lead with a three-run home run in the fifth inning.  After Bloomsburg tied the game in the sixth inning, Nick Rittle had a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Logan Stern (junior forensics chemistry major from Central High School in Martinsburg, PA) and secure the 5-4 win.  Stern had two hits and scored two runs, Sean Donegan also scored two runs, and Brandon Behe (junior communication arts major from Portage High School in Portage, PA) finished the game on the mound to pick up the win.

The Red Flash kept rolling on Sunday, scoring 6 runs in the third inning to take an early 8-5 lead and then held on for an 8-7 win.  Nick Rittle pitched the first 4 and 1/3 innings to earn the win before giving way to Brandon Behe who closed the game for the save.  Troy Templeton had two hits, scored two runs, and knocked in one run.  Nick Rittle and John Sheesley both had two hits, scored one run, and had one RBI.  Max Willcox (freshman finance major from Methacton High School and Eagleville, PA) had two RBI with a hit and walk in two plate appearances.

The three wins are the first under new coach Brett Weibley.  Brett played locally for Hollidaysburg High School (two-time all-state), collegiately for NCAA Division I Kent State, and professionally in the Texas Ranger organization.  He is back in the local area working as an instructor and coach for the ERA Sports in Altoona.  He brings ample baseball experience, a very strong work ethic, and positive attitude to Saint Francis University.

Game 1                1              2              3              4              5              6              7              Total

Bloomsburg        0              2              0              0              0              0              1                 3

Saint Francis       0              6              1              0              1              1              –                 9

WP – Templeton (1-0)

Game 2                1              2              3              4              5              6              7              Total

Bloomsburg        2              1              0              0              0              1              0                 4

Saint Francis       0              1              0              0              3              0              1                 5

WP – Behe (1-0).  HR – Sanders (1)

Game 3                1              2              3              4              5              6              7              Total

Bloomsburg        2              0              3              0              2              0              0                7

Saint Francis       1              1              6              0              0              0              0                8

WP – Rittle (1-0), S – Behe (1)