SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior right fielder Claire Krotine launched a two-run, inside the park homer while senior righthander Kiley Shea scattered seven hits with just one unearned run allowed, as St. Francis opened Delta League softball action with a 3-1 win at Pleasant Grove on Wednesday.
The Troubadours improve to 6-1 overall.
Oddly, St. Francis managed just five hits to the Eagles' seven, but four came in a three-run third inning. Alexis McFarland reached on an error early on, then Krotine slammed a 2-1 pitch on a line drive to left for her first Troubadour homer and just her second extra-base hit of the season. Francesca Guerrera, Kylee Garrett and Alex Garcia followed with consecutive singles before PG junior Madeline Lawson could escape the inning.
Meanwhile, the Eagles threatened in the early frames, with Lindsay Paredes and Riley Bigley each doubling off Shea. Freshman outfielder Natalie Broazaitis reached on an error to lead off the sixth, then later came around on a wild pitch to spoil the shutout bid. But Shea retired Paredes, Marley Escobar and Bella Harpster in succession to put down the PG rally. The Eagles threatened again in the seventh, with Mindy Brian and Carly Henderson rapping out back-to-back singles, putting the potential go-ahead at the plate with just one out.
That's when the outfield came through: Krotine erased a would-be single by forcing out Henderson at second on an outfield kill. Shealynn Stinson then stole second to put two Eagles in scoring position with Broazaitis at the plate. The PG freshman ripped a line drive to center that McFarland snared for the final out.
McFarland also had her team's fifth hit, reaching on a bunt single in the fourth.
St. Francis junior varsity was forced to cancel its half of Wednesday's doubleheader due to a lack of available players. The school is three days into its two-week spring break.
Both teams return to action on Thursday, this time in a non-league doubleheader at Laguna Creek. First pitch is 4 p.m.
