TUCSON, Ariz.—Sierra McKee's grand slam in the bottom of the fifth lit a big spark for Saint Francis and the Red Flash (49-10) went on to eliminate New Mexico State, 8-4, and move to Game 5 Saturday in NCAA Softball Championships Regionial action here at Hillenbrand Stadium.
 
The Aggies (29-25) scored four in the first with four hits and a walk, with RBI from Fahren Glackin, two from Kaitlyn Rubio and another by Haley Nakamura. NM State batted around and chased SFU starter Ketarah DeVries.
 
Saint Francis third baseman Kassidy Troxell doubled to lead off the Red Flash fifth, and the Aggies brought Samaria Diaz in to pitch. She got a groundout but Halle Marion singled to the left side, moving Troxell to third.  Kindra Witthus put SFU on the board with a sacrifice fly to center – just a start.
 
Cheyenne McKee walked, and NM State brought Green back to the circle after Jordan Seneca slammed a monstrous foul ball, and drew a walk to load the bases. Norton then put the Red Flash up 5-4 with the big home run.
Troxell followed a Madison Cabell double with a home run to left to make it 7-4. Mikayla Bower then homered off NMSU reliever Fahren Glackin to score the final run.
 
Ethel Santai (19-2) earned the victory in relief for the Red Flash, who next play South Carolina to earn the title tilt against host Arizona.  She weathered a seventh inning, with the Aggies putting three aboard with two outs, but coming up short.