The softball team picked up its first win of the season last weekend, beating New Haven, 6-3, on March 15.
SFU opened the season 0-23 before the victory over the Chargers. The Flash won last Sunday after dropping a pair of home decisions to New Haven on Saturday, March 14.
In the 6-3 win over NHU, sophomore outfielder Morgan Pasternak went two for three with a triple, a run scored and two RBI. Sophomore Sophia Zielinski also drove in two runs against the Chargers. She collected her first home run of the season in the win.
Freshman Zoe Kesterson picked up the victory in the circle, scattering six hits over six-and-a-third innings. She struck out two and did not walk a batter. Junior righthander Olivia Kolowitz pitched the final two-thirds of the seventh inning to record the save.
“I really needed to dial in and focus for my team because we all deserved a win,” said Kesterson. “I knew if I threw well, it would give us a good chance at winning.”
The Charlestown, West Virginia, native leads the Flash pitching staff in innings pitched (40.2) and earned-run-average (5.85).
“I was confident after about the fourth inning that we were going to win because we started scoring more runs for insurance,” said Kesterson.
It was the first Division I head coach victory for first-year SFU coach Bill Vasko.
“Our players have continued to show up every day, work hard, and stay committed despite a lot of early challenges this season, so it was rewarding to see them get that result.”
Vasko arrived in Loretto prior to the start of this season after serving as head coach at Frostburg State in West Virginia for seven years.
“More than anything, I was proud of the way they competed and stayed together as a group,” Vasko said. “Wins are important, but seeing our team continue to grow and fight for each other is what I’m most encouraged by.”
SFU was scheduled to play a doubleheader at Youngstown State on Wednesday, March 18, but the games were canceled because of the this week’s snowstorm.
The team will return to NEC action this weekend, hosting Central Connecticut for two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday.
“Our expectations are to continue improving every day,” said Vasko. “We’re focused on playing cleaner softball, limiting the small mistakes, and competing pitch by pitch.”
All three games against the Blue Devils this weekend will be streamed on NEC FrontRow.
