It was more than just a doubleheader on Sunday for the Red Flash softball team. It was Senior Day — a moment filled with pride, reflection and emotion — even as the team dropped both games to LIU, 11-8 and 12-2.
Before the first pitch, the focus wasn’t on the scoreboard. It was on the seniors.
One by one, they walked onto the field alongside their families. Tears were hard to hold back — not just from the seniors, but also from teammates watching.
“I was feeling both excited and sad,” said graduate student Emma Hicks. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, but it’s bittersweet because it means softball is coming to an end.”
For Hicks, the journey was shaped by more than just the game itself.
“My sisters have had the biggest impact on me,” she said. “We follow each other everywhere and are each other’s best friends.”
That sense of connection echoed through the team — a theme that defined the day as much as the competition.
On the field, the Red Flash fought hard in Game 1, putting up eight runs in a competitive battle before ultimately falling 11-8.
Game 2 proved more difficult, as LIU pulled away for a 12-2 victory.
For senior Haley Brag, the program’s impact goes far beyond softball.
“This program has shaped me as a person in so many ways,” Brag said. “It taught me that progress takes time — more time than you expect — but it’s worth it. It also showed me how important it is to have confidence, to ask for help, and to stay true to who you are.”
She also emphasized the importance of appreciating the present.
“Time moves fast,” she said. “You have to stop and enjoy the small moments — where you are and the people you’re with.”
After the final game, student manager Matthew Hall — known to the team as “Matty Ice” — delivered a message that reflected both the challenges and the opportunities still ahead.
“This season has been frustrating,” Hall said. “But we still have one more opportunity to compete and finish on a better note against Wagner.
“This team has meant everything to me,” he said. “The relationships I’ve built with so many people have been incredible. Being even a small part of everyone’s story here has meant a lot.”
That idea — relationships over results — is something the seniors hope to carry with them beyond the softball diamond.
Junior Aliya Garroway emphasized the importance of growth and perseverance for those who will continue in the program.
“Be as coachable as you can,” she said. “There’s always something you can improve on. Work hard and never give up, even when things get tough.”
Senior Belle Farmer takes pride in the resilience demonstrated by the SFU teams she played on.
“I’m most proud of the fight my past teams had,” Farmer said. “We never gave up and that resilience was inspiring.”
