SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Caitie Caldwell pitched a shutout with a career-high 13 strikeouts and helped her cause with two extra-base hits and three runs batted in and a run scored in a 5-0 win over Davis Tuesday at Schuster Field.
"I was really nervous at first but I buckled down because I knew I had a really good defense behind me," said Caldwell. "We really needed the win for league (standings).
Caldwell doubled in the third inning and scored on a Blue Devil error to provide the only run she would need on the day. But the Troubadours rallied for four runs in the fourth to take command of the game. Junior Chloe Smith doubled and scored on Bella Valentine's double. Freshman Sage Davis then singled and Arden Hatch walked to load the bases. Caldwell plated all three with a triple.
"I tried not to do anything big," said Caldwell. "I always try to swing for the fences and end up popping up so was trying to think up the middle."
Caldwell stranded six Blue Devils on the day helped by 13 strikeouts.
"She was great," said Head Coach Kevin Warren. "She had good velocity on her pitches. Paige (Herbert) did a great job behind the plate. They were really in sync today. She had a huge at-bat to clear the bases."
St. Francis (4-3) will travel to Fresno for the Washington Union Invitational.
"It was a great win and perfect timing," said Warren. "We have five games this weekend so hopefully it will continue."
St. Francis 5, Davis 0
Davis 0000000 0 5 0
St. Francis 001 400 0 570
Top hitters: Caldwell 2×2 3 RBI; Valentine 1×3 2B; Smith 1×3 2B.