# Saint Francis Red Flash softball

    For information on all Saint Francis University sports, see Saint Francis Red Flash
The Saint Francis Red Flash softball team represents Saint Francis University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Northeast Conference (NEC). The Red Flash are currently led by head coach Beth Krysiak. The team plays its home games at Red Flash Softball Field, which is located on the college's campus.

## History

After nearly four decades of minimal success, the Red Flash rose to prominence in the Northeast Conference after the hiring of former coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift and current head coach Jessica O'Donnell. Patrick-Swift left the team after the 2018 season. The program won five NEC tournament championships from 2017 to 2022, as the 2020 NEC tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program also won the NEC regular season championship in 2017, 2018, and from 2021 until 2023. By winning the NEC tournament, the program qualified for the NCAA Division I softball tournament.
In the 2017 NCAA tournament, the Red Flash won their first NCAA tournament game in program history, defeating New Mexico State by a score of 8-4 before being eliminated from the tournament by South Carolina. As of 2023, it is their only win as they were eliminated in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 without winning a game and scoring only six runs in eight total games.
In 2021, former third baseman Mekenzie Saban was named to Softball America's All-American Third-team. In 2022, Saban was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year, while pitcher Rachel Marsden was named Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Year.
On June 21, 2023, head coach Jessica O'Donnell announced her departure from the program to become the head coach of Kent State. Beth Krysiak was named as the new Red Flash head coach on August 9, 2023.

### Coaching history

| Years | Coach | Record | % |
| 1986–1990 | Tom Cicero | 67–85 | .441 |
| 1991–1993 | Terry Bennett | 27–51 | .346 |
| 1994–1998 | Rudy Galayda | 93–122–2 | .433 |
| 1999 | Christy Cameron | 16–28 | .364 |
| 2000 | Missy Radaker | 22–20 | .524 |
| 2001 | Brock Radaker | 19–24 | .442 |
| 2002 | Michelle Kozak | 28–24–1 | .538 |
| 2003–2004 | Laura Cymmerman | 22–62 | .262 |
| 2005–2006 | Erin Layton | 29–74 | .282 |
| 2007–2011 | Sabrina Lane | 87–172 | .336 |
| 2012–2018 | Jennifer Patrick-Swift | 226–152 | .598 |
| 2019–2023 | Jessica O’Donnell | 137–101 | .576 |
| 2024–present | Beth Krysiak | 0–0 | – |

## Season by season results

Statistics overview :
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Saint Francis Red Flash (Northeast Conference) (1986–present) ||||||
| 1986 | Tom Cicero | 6–21 | | | |
| 1987 | Tom Cicero | 9–20 | | | |
| 1988 | Tom Cicero | 19–16 | | | |
| 1989 | Tom Cicero | 17–10 | | | |
| 1990 | Tom Cicero | 16–18 | | | |
| 1991 | Terry Bennett | 7–22 | | | |
| 1992 | Terry Bennett | 8–14 | | | |
| 1993 | Terry Bennett | 12–15 | | | |
| 1994 | Rudy Galayda | 11–26 | 4–3 | | |
| 1995 | Rudy Galayda | 15–24–1 | 7–9 | | |
| 1996 | Rudy Galayda | 13–31 | 6–10 | | |
| 1997 | Rudy Galayda | 21–24 | 9–7 | | |
| 1998 | Rudy Galayda | 33–17–1 | 7–2–1 | 3rd | |
| 1999 | Christy Cameron | 16–28 | 6–12 | 8th | |
| 2000 | Missy Radaker | 22–20 | 11–9 | 5th | |
| 2001 | Brock Radaker | 19–24 | 12–8 | 5th | |
| 2002 | Michelle Kozak | 28–24–1 | 12–9–1 | 4th | |
| 2003 | Laura Cymmerman | 14–29 | 11–10 | 5th | |
| 2004 | Laura Cymmerman | 8–33 | 6–12 | T–9th | |
| 2005 | Erin Layton | 9–39 | 4–13 | 10th | |
| 2006 | Erin Layton | 20–35 | 8–10 | T–6th | |
| 2007 | Sabrina Lane | 17–35 | 3–15 | 9th | |
| 2008 | Sabrina Lane | 24–34 | 11–6 | 3rd | |
| 2009 | Sabrina Lane | 21–30 | 5–11 | 8th | |
| 2010 | Sabrina Lane | 15–35 | 3–12 | 10th | |
| 2011 | Sabrina Lane | 10–38 | 2–16 | 11th | |
| 2012 | Jennifer Patrick-Swift | 22–26 | 9–11 | 7th | |
| 2013 | Jennifer Patrick-Swift | 25–30 | 6–14 | 9th | |
| 2014 | Jennifer Patrick-Swift | 26–23 | 8–8 | 5th | |
| 2015 | Jennifer Patrick-Swift | 31–19 | 9–7 | 5th | |
| 2016 | Jennifer Patrick-Swift | 34–24 | 13–3 | 2nd | |
| 2017 | Jennifer Patrick-Swift | 49–11 | 16–0 | 1st | NCAA Regionals |
| 2018 | Jennifer Patrick-Swift | 39–19 | 16–0 | 1st | NCAA Regionals |
| 2019 | Jessica O’Donnell | 29–31 | 10–6 | 3rd | NCAA Regionals |
| 2020 | Jessica O’Donnell | 5–18 | 0–0 | N/A | Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic |
| 2021 | Jessica O’Donnell | 40–10 | 22–2 | 1st | NCAA Regionals |
| 2022 | Jessica O’Donnell | 37–18 | 20–4 | 1st | NCAA Regionals |
| 2023 | Jessica O’Donnell | 26–24 | 15–6 | 1st | |
| 2024 | Beth Krysiak | 41–14 | 24–0 | 1st | NCAA Regionals |
| Total: | Total: | 773–915–3 (.458) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||