BURNABY, B.C. – Simon Fraser and Saint Martin's (Washington) played two closely contested Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball games Wednesday at Beedie Field, but it was the visiting Saints who completed the doubleheader sweep with 8-4 and 15-9 victories. The two teams were originally scheduled to play twice on Saturday, April 8, but the games were postponed because of rain.
 
Junior center fielder Megan Duclos (Saint-Eustache, Que.) had five hits and a pair of stolen bases – increasing her GNAC single-season record total to 38 – for the host Red Leafs on Wednesday. Kristen Davyduke (Saskatoon), a sophomore who played at third base, freshman shortstop Amy Hughes (Brampton, Ont.) and sophomore left fielder Abby McGlynn (Langley, B.C.) each recorded four hits.
 
"We're getting better; that's exciting for us as we look to the future," said SFU head coach Stacy Fournier. "In the second game, our team didn't give up when we went down 12-0 early, which was really nice to see, especially because our players are so young. We will win softball games this year, but we're also learning a lot that will help us in the long run."
 
GAME 1 – Saint Martin's 8, Simon Fraser 4
SFU (8-31, 2-14 GNAC) took a 2-1 advantage in the third inning. Freshman catcher Rachel Boles (Maple Ridge, B.C.) led off with a double to center field and then moved to third on a throwing error. Duclos hit an infield single, and then stole second base. Hughes stepped up to the plate and drove a double to right field that plated both Boles and Duclos.
 
However, Saint Martin's (20-10, 7-3 GNAC) responded with seven consecutive runs to take an 8-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. In the fifth, Olivia Matlock hit a two-run home run for the Saints. Two batters later, Shelby Lawson sent a solo shot over the fence in left center. In Wednesday's two contests, Saint Martin's hit a total of five home runs.
 
The Red Leafs loaded the bases with two outs the bottom of the seventh. McGlynn hit a single up the middle to score Boles and Duclos, and cut the SFU deficit to 8-4 but SMU relief pitcher Chloe Leverington induced a fly out on the next play to conclude the game.
 
Hughes and McGlynn both had two hits and two runs batted in. Boles, Duclos, and rookie Cassidy Affeldt (Mission, B.C.), who played third base, got the remaining hits for the Red Leafs.
 

GAME 2 – Saint Martin's 15, Simon Fraser 9
The Saints scored a half-dozen times in the second and third innings to jump out to a 12-0 lead.
 
Kekai Schultz earned four of her six RBIs on a second-inning grand slam home run. Her fifth RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the third, which preceded a two-run home run by Destiny Conerly that stretched SMU's lead to 12. Schultz went 3-for-3 batting as well.
 
The Saints looked like they were on their way to a run-rule victory, but SFU fought its way back into the game.
 
After Duclos scored on a fielder's choice to get the Red Leafs' opening run in the bottom of the third inning, SFU still had runners on first and third base. Davyduke stepped up to the plate and blasted the first pitch she saw over the fence in center field for a three-run home run. It was her sixth of the season, tied for the team lead with Affeldt, and it cut the home side's deficit to 12-4.
 
In the next inning, it was Hughes' turn. She sent a full-count pitch out of the park in left field to bring the Red Leafs to within six runs at 12-6. It was her second home run of the campaign.
 
SFU added another two in the fifth to close to 12-8. Affeldt drove the 10th pitch of her at-bat through the left side for a bases-loaded RBI single that plated sophomore right fielder Janique Balcaen (Winnipeg). After a strikeout, Duclos chopped a single up the middle to bring home Davyduke. However, SMU was able to get the final out of the inning leaving the bases loaded.
 
Davyduke doubled to left field in the sixth to score McGlynn, and then advanced to third on the throw back into the infield. The Red Leafs were down just 12-9 with one out and a runner on third base, but the Saints ended the threat by getting a ground out and strikeout.
 
They secured the triumph by adding three insurance runs in the seventh inning.
 
Davyduke went a perfect 4-for-4 batting and drove in four runs to lead SFU offensively. Duclos was 4-for-5 with an RBI. Hughes and McGlynn had two hits apiece. Balcaen, Davyduke, Duclos, and Hughes all scored a pair of runs each.
 
SFU will have a bye week before hosting Central Washington in doubleheaders on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at Beedie Field. These will be the final regular season home games for the Red Leafs in 2023.
 
TICKET PURCHASE LINKS:
APRIL 22: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sfu-softball-vs-central-washington-university-double-header-tickets-528768419577
APRIL 23: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sfu-softball-vs-central-washington-university-double-header-senior-day-tickets-528769793687
 
For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.
 
#RepTheLeaf