SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Kinsley Imm launched her second home run of the season while surrendering just one earned run in 6.1 innings in the pitching circle, but St. Francis could not completely overcome an early 6-1 deficit in falling by a 7-5 final to Granite Bay in a Sierra Foothill League softball game at Schuster Field Monday.

The Troubadours slip to 2-11 overall and 0-6 in league play. The Grizzlies even their season record to 7-7 and improve to 3-4 in SFL contests.

Imm, who has St. Francis' only home runs for the season, smacked a solo shot to left in the fourth inning to trip the GB lead to 6-2. Juniors Marissa Jensen and Reese Lewis each came off the bench to hit 2-for-2 with an RBI, contributing to the three straight Troubie runs in the late innings. Lewis entered the game in relief of Imm in the fourth, while Jensen came in to cover both first base and left field.

St. Francis suffered from four errors overall, making six of the total runs scored off Imm unearned. The Troubies also ran into some hard luck in the fifth. In the top half, Granite Bay loaded the bases with one out, forcing the SF infield in. A hard grounder short-hopped Lewis, by then at first base, who no longer had the force play at the plate and instead settled for the easier out at first. This run allowed the Grizzlies to regain the run after the Imm blast, increasing their lead to 7-2.

Then in the bottom half of that same inning, St. Francis ended up with runners on second and third due to a Lewis single and Alexis McFarland reaching on an error. With Ariella Alcantar at the plate, a would-be wild pitch scooted past GB catcher Sami McKown, allowing pinch runner Olivia Meisner to score what appeared to be the Troubies' third run. McKown threw the loose ball to her pitcher Cam Lincoln in an effort to catch Meisner, but the attempt struck Alcantar, who had merely backed away from the play to allow her teammate to score.

Alcantar's unintentional interference resulted in her becoming the second out, while Meisner and McFarland were sent back to third and second, respectively. A Claire Krotine grounder ended the frame, standing the two SF runners and keeping the Grizzly lead at five.

Back-to-back doubles from Isabella Barge and Jensen led off the sixth, then Imm walked to load the bases. Two batters later, Kylee Garrett grounded into a possible double play, but she hustled well enough to keep the grounder to a fielder's choice and an RBI. Lewis followed with an RBI single to cut the margin to 7-4.

St. Francis continued to rally in the seventh, with Krotine ripping a one-out single to left, then advancing to second on a 4-3 groundout. Now with two out, Jensen pulled a hard grounder down the line that hopped up on GB first baseman Grace Thorns, glancing off her shoulder and rolling down the line to give Krotine plenty of time to score from second. However, Thorns ended up with the game-ending play, snaring a hard grounder off Imm's bat and handling the putout unassisted to end the rally and the contest.

Despite the loss, the late-inning outburst continues a recent trend of offense for St. Francis, which amassed 12 hits at Davis, 10 hits and nine runs against Christian Brothers, then eight hits – including the Imm homer – in Monday's game.

The Troubies return to action at home against Rocklin on Wednesday. First pitch is 5 p.m. at Schuster Field.